OCTOBER 10 - 16, 2026
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Volume 37 - No. 41 • 16 Pages
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Government auditors order VP Duterte DATELINE USA Fil-Am Mayor Gloria to return P73.3M in confidential funds demands Trump apology FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
over San Diego remarks
Audit commission holds vice president and two OVP officials liable after rejecting appeal over 2022 spending; defense plans Supreme Court challenge
her office to return P73.287 million in confidential nied a motion for reconsideration filed by Duterte, President says his comments funds after rejecting their challenge to a ruling that Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursby AJPress the expenses lacked adequate supporting records. ing officer Gina Acosta and chief accountant Julieta concerned higher gasoline prices The Commission on Audit (COA), in a 15-page Villadelrey. MANILA — Government auditors have ordered and the danger of a nuclear- Vice President Sara Duterte and two officials of resolution dated Oct. 5 and made public Oct. 7, deu PAGE 2 armed Iran, not support for attacks on American cities
Percy Lapid’s son in U.S. immigration custody as asylum application remains pending
SAN DIEGO — President Donald Trump said Thursday that his remarks about possible Iranian attacks on San Diego and Los Angeles had been misinterpreted, responding to criticism that prompted Filipino American Mayor Todd Gloria and California lawmakers to demand an apology. The controversy began Monday, October 5, during a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, where Trump discussed the war with Iran and the higher gasoline prices associated with the conflict. Arguing that the economic costs were justified by the need to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, Trump described rising prices as a relatively small sacrifice for national security. He then referred to the possibility of attacks u PAGE 3
Treasury opens investment accounts for 60 million more children; parents still must claim them Nearly 70 million Trump Accounts have been created nationwide, but automatic enrollment does not guarantee a federal cash contribution
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department has automatically established investment accounts for more than 60 million children, bringing the total number of Trump Accounts created nationwide to nearly 70 million, according to federal officials. The new accounts do not necessarily contain money, and families must take further steps to manage them and arrange ordinary contributions. u PAGE 5
Counsel seeks bond review ahead of Nov. 5 immigration hearing by AJPress
President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. meets with FedEx executives in Singapore to strengthen the Philippines’ position as a regional logistics hub. PCO file photo
Cardinal Tagle elected first Asian DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL | WEEKLY REPORT dean of College of Cardinals House cites P817.87M in Pope Leo XIV approves former Manila archbishop’s election to senior Vatican position by AJPress VATICAN CITY — Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has been elected dean of the College of Cardinals, becoming the first Asian to hold a senior Church office with important responsibilities during papal transitions. The Vatican announced Friday, October
9, that Pope Leo XIV had approved Tagle’s election the previous day following a vote by members of the Order of Cardinal Bishops. Tagle, 69, succeeds Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 92, who had served as dean since 2020. Earlier holders included Cardinal Bernardin Gantin of Benin, who led the college from 1993 to 2002. u PAGE 3
Supreme Court makes it Villar joins Senate majority, easier for Filipinos to have takes public works helm foreign divorces recognized Minority leader Cayetano wishes former bloc New rules remove a major documentary requirement, but Filipino spouses must still obtain recognition from Philippine courts by AJPress MANILA — Filipinos who have divorced their foreign spouses abroad will soon find it easier to have those divorces recognized in the Philippines after the Supreme Court approved new rules removing a longstanding requirement to prove the divorce laws of another country. The amendments, approved by
LOS ANGELES — Mark Mabasa, son of slain Philippine broadcaster Percival Mabasa, professionally known as Percy Lapid, remains in U.S. immigration custody in Southern California as his asylum application remains pending and his lawyer seeks his temporary release on bond. Mabasa has been held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center since Sept. 21. The specific immigration ground for his detention has not been publicly disclosed. Mabasa’s lawyer, John Perry, said he filed a request for bond redetermination on Oct. 2 and expects a bond hearing before the next scheduled master calendar hearing on Nov. 5. Perry said the immigration judge also set a Nov. 16 merits hearing during Mabasa’s Oct. u PAGE 5
the Supreme Court on October 7, simplify the legal process for Filipinos seeking recognition of a foreign divorce under Article 26(2) of the Family Code. Previously, Filipino spouses generally had to prove two things in court: that the divorce actually took place abroad and that the applicable foreign law allowed the divorce. Obtaining official copies of u PAGE 3
MANILA — Sen. Mark Villar moved from the minority to the bloc led by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday, October 8, and was elected chairman of the Committee on Public Works, bringing the majority bloc’s membership to 14 of the chamber’s 24 senators. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri moved for Villar to succeed Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III as public works chairman and take Zubi-
Financial expert combines four years of bank, tax and corporate records; defense challenges analysis as Senate examines manager’s checks and foreign remittances by AJPress
MANILA — A financial expert presented by House prosecutors estimated P817.87 million in allegedly undeclared assets and income involving Vice President ri’s seat on the Commission on Sara Duterte and her husband, Appointments. Both motions were lawyer Manases Carpio, as the prosecution completed its preapproved without objection. The changes left 10 senators in sentation of witnesses Friday, the minority, led by Sen. Alan Pe- October 9. The panel also conter Cayetano. Villar’s sister, Sen. firmed it would no longer pursue Camille Villar, remains with the a bribery article, narrowing the allegations it intends to prove group. In another appointment, the before the Senate impeachment Senate elected Cayetano to replace court. The developments followed Sen. Loren Legarda, who has been on extended medical leave, on the five days of testimony about Commission on Appointments. bank accounts, asset declaraThe bicameral body reviews cer- tions, corporate remittances and tax filings. Neither the extain presidential appointments. Zubiri said Villar wanted com- pert’s estimate nor the underlyu PAGE 3 ing financial reports constitutes
colleague well as chamber divides 14–10 by AJPress
alleged Duterte disclosure gaps, drops bribery article
a finding that Duterte illegally acquired the amount cited. Her lawyers have disputed aspects of the evidence, and the Senate has not reached a verdict. Financial expert presents P817.87-million calculation Alexander Cabrera, a certified public accountant, lawyer and former chairman of Isla Lipana & Co., said he analyzed financial records covering 2022 through 2025 alongside Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, or SALNs. He calculated P817,874,867 in assets and income that he considered inadequately declared or explained. Cabrera broke down his estimate into approximately P190.6 u PAGE 2
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OCTOBER 10 - 16, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page
Government auditors order VP... House cites P817.87M in alleged Duterte... PAGE 1 The decision maintains a refund obligation arising from a notice of disallowance issued in August 2024 and upheld by COA in April. Duterte's lawyers said they would take the matter to the Supreme Court, which has not been reported to have ruled on the case. How the P73.3 million was reported spent The questioned expenses were charged against a P125-million confidential-fund allocation released to the OVP on Dec. 20, 2022. The transactions covered by the disallowance were recorded between Dec. 21 and 31 of that year. COA disallowed P69.787 million reported as payments or rewards for information: P10
LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) INVITATION FOR BID LACMTA will receive Bids/ Proposals for DR145771 FLEETWATCH DATA LOGGER JX200 WITH J1939 CONNECTOR. DUAL BOX. Electronically via bids@metro. net A Pre-Bid conference will not be held. All Bids must be submitted to LACMTA, as per the IFB solicitation packet on or before 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at which time bids will be opened and publicly read. Bids received after the above date and time may be rejected and returned unopened. Each Bid must be sealed and marked Bid No. DR145771. For a copy of the Proposal/ Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https:// business.metro.net or for further information email Marc Margoni at margonim@metro. net. 10/10/26 CNS-4084751# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)
million in cash, P34.857 million in goods and P24.93 million in medicines. The remaining P 3.5 million covered reported purchases of tables, chairs, desktop computers and printers, which the OVP said were intended for safe houses. The amount disallowed is not the entire P125-million allocation. Nor does the audit finding, by itself, show that any of the three officials personally received the questioned funds. Why auditors rejected the records COA found that acknowledgment receipts and a list of activities did not show the results of confidential operations that would justify the reported payments to informants. Under government rules, such rewards must be supported by records connecting information supplied by informants to successful information gathering or surveillance. The audit commission also reviewed a certification describing work performed by the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group. It said routine duties carried out by salaried military personnel did not qualify as work for which rewards to outside informants could be paid. Regarding the furniture and computers, COA found inadequate documentation linking the equipment to confidential operations. It also questioned why the purchases could not have been handled through normal government procurement procedures. The requirements are set out in Joint Circular No. 2015-01, issued by COA and four other government agencies. Although confidential spending may involve sensitive operations, agencies must still provide records that allow government auditors to establish whether the money was used for authorized purposes. COA rejected the respondents' contention that their acknowledgment receipts and other submissions met those requirements, as well as their procedural objections to the disallowance. Who must return the money The commission identified
Duterte as the approving official, Acosta as the officer responsible for the cash advance and disbursements, and Villadelrey as the accountant who certified supporting documents. Its ruling holds them responsible under government audit rules, not guilty of any criminal offense. The OVP said Oct. 7 that it had not received an official copy of the resolution and was preparing to use the available legal channels. On Oct. 8, Duterte's lawyer Michael Poa said the defense planned to seek Supreme Court review through a petition for certiorari. COA described its decision as affirmed with finality, referring to the conclusion of reconsideration before the audit commission. The court challenge remains available. Under COA's procedural rules, filing a petition does not automatically stop enforcement unless the Supreme Court orders otherwise. Separate findings, impeachment trial COA has also issued separate notices disallowing P375 million in OVP confidential expenses from the first three quarters of 2023. Those transactions are not part of the latest P73.287-million decision and have a separate procedural history. The disputed 2022 spending also figures in Duterte's Senate impeachment trial, where prosecutors have questioned the handling of a combined P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the OVP and the Department of Education during her tenure as education secretary. Prosecutors have argued that records show the OVP used its entire P125-million allocation within 11 days. Duterte's defense has declined to accept that characterization, saying it must be examined during the proceedings. The issue is distinct from COA's finding about inadequate documentation for P73.287 million. On Friday, Oct. 9, the House prosecution announced that it had completed presenting its evidence before the Senate. Duterte has denied wrongdoing, and the impeachment court must decide the allegations separately from COA's audit findings. n
PAGE 1 million for 2022, P167.3 million for 2023, P264.2 million for 2024 and P195.7 million for 2025. Those amounts combine different accounting categories and years. They do not represent a single bank balance or the couple’s net worth. The analysis included allegedly undeclared cash, property and income attributed to businesses including Cale88 Foods Corp., Metro City Chow Foods Corp. and GenCorp Industries Inc. Cabrera said he applied a “piercing the corporate veil” approach and sought to avoid double counting. Whether company income and assets may legally be attributed to the couple, and whether his calculations adequately account for duplication or differences in financial reporting, remain matters for the impeachment court to assess. Defense lawyer Sheila Sison questioned Cabrera’s access to confidential records obtained through Senate subpoenas. House prosecutor Chel Diokno defended the prosecution’s use of an expert to analyze its evidence. Presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero permitted the testimony while allowing the defense to question Cabrera, whose cross-examination was scheduled for Monday, October 12. House prosecution withdraws bribery article The House panel confirmed October 9 that it had filed a manifestation on October 6 withdrawing Article III, which accused Duterte of bribing Department of Education officials during her tenure as education secretary. House prosecutor Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores said the panel wanted to avoid unnecessarily extending the proceedings and would rely on the articles for which it had already presented evidence. The prosecution’s decision not to pursue the bribery allegation is not an acquittal or a finding that the accusation was substantiated or disproved. P4.4-billion transaction reports and BPI check trail Anti-Money Laundering Council Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura
testified October 5 that reporting institutions had submitted records of approximately P4.4 billion in covered and suspicious transactions involving Duterte and Carpio from 2007 through 2025. He described approximately P1.63 billion as inflows, P1.31 billion as outflows and P1.46 billion as transactions that could not reliably be classified in either direction. The total measures transactions reported over many years, not money held by the couple at one time or proceeds established to be unlawful. Buenaventura said the amount reflected a bank reporting correction validated before the AMLC documents were submitted to the Senate court. The defense questioned the records’ accuracy and significance. In October 7 testimony, Bank of the Philippine Islands official Marwin Galvez detailed a P40.65-million time deposit opened in January 2010 under an account title bearing the names of Sara Duterte and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. After successive renewals, the deposit reached approximately P41.72 million, which was used to purchase a manager’s check in March 2011. A replacement was issued after the original went unused. Prosecutors also examined a separate P55-million series of transactions involving manager’s checks. House prosecutors questioned whether outstanding bank-issued checks could keep funds outside ordinary deposit balances reviewed alongside SALNs. Duterte’s lawyer Michael Poa said she did not recall the account and had not participated in the questioned transactions. Galvez testified that the applications examined bore Rodrigo Duterte’s signature, not hers. The testimony did not establish that the checks were issued to conceal assets. Prosecutors also compared year-end balances in accounts associated with Duterte and Carpio with their asset declarations. The defense maintained that cash had been reported under other personal properties and disputed treating funds held
in joint accounts as necessarily belonging to the vice president. Cale88 remittances and BIR records raise further questions Buenaventura reported approximately P319.33 million in remittances from China and Hong Kong to Cale88, a company associated with Carpio. National Security Adviser Eduardo Oban said the National Security Council would examine potential security implications. The evidence did not establish that the funds came from a foreign government or were paid to Duterte personally. During Friday’s hearing, senator-judges examined approximately P776 million in reported inflows to Cale88 against about P208.5 million in sales declared to the Bureau of Internal Revenue for 2021 through 2025. BIR official Anne Loraine Garcia-Marquez confirmed that the agency had issued a letter of authority to examine Cale88’s tax records. The two figures are not directly comparable without the underlying accounts. Inflows may include loans, capital contributions or other receipts that are not sales. Garcia-Marquez said funds received should nevertheless be reflected appropriately in financial statements. The hearing did not establish a tax violation. Garcia-Marquez also testified that Duterte and Carpio reported approximately P85.34 million in combined after-tax income between 2007 and 2025. Prosecutors contrasted that figure with the rise in their declared net worth from about P7.25 million to P98.66 million over the same period. Income accumulated over time and net worth at a particular date measure different things; the comparison alone does not prove unlawful enrichment. The BIR witness said a search had found no record of a reported transfer of Cale88 shares or associated tax payments. When a prosecutor described the purported sale as fictitious, Escudero sustained a defense objection and struck that characterization from the record. The absence of an agency record does not, by itself, establish that a transaction was fabricated. n
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Fil-Am Mayor Todd Gloria demands Trump... Supreme Court drops initial foreign-law...
PAGE 1 on American cities, saying, “Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.” The remarks drew objections from California officials who interpreted the wording as suggesting that attacks on the two cities could be considered acceptable. The White House rejected that interpretation. Gloria issued a statement Tuesday emphasizing San Diego's significance to American national defense and the president's responsibility to protect all communities. “President Trump should retract these remarks and apologize to the people of San Diego,” Gloria said. The mayor pointed to San Diego's military installations, servicemembers, shipbuilders and research institutions, saying the city's nearly 1.4 million residents should not be treated as expendable in discussions of national security. Gloria, San Diego's 37th mayor, also serves as president of the United States Conference of Mayors for 2026–2027. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung disputed the interpretation that Trump had advocated attacks. Cheung
said the president was describing the danger American cities could have faced if Iran acquired nuclear weapons and the administration had not acted to prevent it. California Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized the remarks and directed the State Threat Assessment Center to monitor the situation in case foreign actors interpreted the president's words as an invitation to target California. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also objected to the comments. Jim Desmond, a Republican congressional candidate, San Diego County supervisor and Navy veteran, similarly expressed disagreement, emphasizing the federal government's responsibility to defend American communities. The United States Conference of Mayors issued a separate statement through its chief executive and executive director, Tom Cochran, criticizing the president's initial wording and calling on elected officials of all political affiliations to reaffirm their responsibility to protect American cities. On Wednesday, October 7, California's Democratic congressional delegation, including U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, called for an apology. The lawmakers said Trump's remarks appeared to invite an attack on the
cities, an allegation disputed by the administration. Trump returned to the subject Wednesday during a campaign rally in San Antonio, Texas, where he described the devastating consequences of missile strikes against San Diego or Los Angeles. “We're not going to let that happen. We protect our cities. We protect our country,” Trump said. In a social media statement Thursday, October 8, Trump said he had been comparing the temporary economic burden of higher gasoline prices with the far greater consequences of an attack on major American cities. He rejected suggestions that he wanted Iran to strike San Diego or Los Angeles and said he loved both cities. The president's hypothetical account of an Iranian missile attack was not an established assessment of Iran's current military capability. In its March 2026 threat assessment, the U.S. intelligence community said Iran had developed space-launch technology that could support a militarily viable intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 if Tehran pursued that capability. The assessment did not establish that Iran possessed an operational missile capable of striking California. (AJPress)
Cardinal Tagle elected first Asian dean of... PAGE 1 The dean chairs meetings of the College of Cardinals, whose members advise the pope and whose eligible electors choose his successor. Under canon law, the dean is first among equals and has no governing authority over fellow cardinals. The office assumes particular importance when a pope dies or resigns. The dean convenes the cardinals for meetings ahead of a papal election and, if eligible to vote, presides over the conclave. Re carried out prominent duties after Pope Francis’ death in April 2025, presiding over the funeral and the Mass preceding the conclave that elected Leo XIV. The office does not make its holder a designated successor to the pope. Since a reform introduced by Francis in 2019, the dean has served a renewable five-year term rather than holding the position for life. Tagle’s election follows decades of service in the Philippines and the Vatican. He was appointed bishop of Imus in 2001 and archbis-
PAGE 1 foreign laws, having them certified and securing English translations could make the process difficult. Under the new rules, petitioners will only need to prove that the foreign divorce took place, without separately establishing the applicable foreign law when filing their cases. The changes do not mean that foreign divorces will automatically be recognized in the Philippines. Filipino spouses must still file a petition in a Philippine court and obtain a ruling recognizing the divorce before relying on it to remarry. The amendments introduce Section 48-A of Rule 39 of the Rules of Court. This provision establishes a legal presumption that a divorce involving a Filipino and a foreign spouse allows the foreign spouse to remarry, unless the divorce document specifically states that the divorce is limited rather than absolute. In practical terms, the court will presume that the foreign divorce ended the marriage in a way that permits the foreign spouse to remarry. If another party disputes that conclusion, that party must present evidence showing otherwise. The new rules also simplify the treatment of documents written in foreign languages. An English translation will be presumed accurate if the translator certifies its accuracy under oath. That presumption, however, may still be
challenged. The Supreme Court emphasized that the changes do not alter the existing legal requirements for recognizing foreign divorces. Petitions may still be opposed on grounds including lack of jurisdiction, inadequate notice, fraud or a clear mistake of law or fact. The distinction is important because the Philippines does not have a general divorce law for marriages between Filipino citizens. Article 26(2) of the Family Code provides a specific legal remedy for qualifying marriages involving a Filipino and a foreign spouse, allowing the Filipino to remarry when the requirements for recognition are met. The Supreme Court said the amendments were intended to address difficulties experienced by Filipinos, particularly overseas Filipino workers, in obtaining foreign legal documents. During consultations, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported that divorce laws can be difficult to obtain because legal systems vary among countries. Some governments have no designated officials to certify their laws, while official English translations are not always available. The amendments were approved upon the recommendation of Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, following consultations with Associate Justices Amy Lazaro-Javier and Jhosep Lopez and a judicial working group addressing concerns of overseas Fil-
Villar joins Senate majority... PAGE 1
Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Luis Antoio Tagle, pro prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, during a meeting with the Pontifical Mission Societies at the Vatican on May 22, 2025. File photo from VATICAN MEDIA
hop of Manila in 2011, then made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI the following year. He took part in the conclave that elected Francis in 2013, and Francis named him prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in 2019. Tagle earned a doctorate in theology from the Catholic University of America in Washington in
1991. Since a restructuring of the Vatican administration in 2022, he has served as pro-prefect of the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches within the Dicastery for Evangelization, overseeing matters related to missionary work and the development of local churches in territories under its jurisdiction. n
mittee assignments that would allow him to be more active in the Senate. He rejected suggestions that the transfer was connected to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying a senator’s membership in either bloc does not determine a vote for conviction or acquittal. Cayetano wished Villar well in an October 8 statement and said the minority would continue its oversight responsibilities. “Regardless of how the political landscape shifts, our duty remains unchanged,” Cayetano said. He described the minority’s continuing role as holding the government to account and serving as constructive opposition. Villar’s transfer followed a disagreement with fellow minority senators over the voting threshold in Duterte’s impeachment trial. On
September 23, Villar was the only minority senator among the 13 who supported replacing an earlier ruling that fixed the requirement for conviction at 16 votes. One senator voted against the change, six did not participate and four were absent. Under the revised rule, the twothirds requirement is calculated using senators legally and actually capable of participating when judgment is rendered, rather than automatically counting all 24 Senate seats. The revised formula faces a new challenge before the Supreme Court after three earlier petitions were dismissed on procedural grounds. Villar served as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways under former President Rodrigo Duterte before his election to the Senate in 2022 n
ipinos. To support the new procedure, the Supreme Court has also approved the establishment of a central repository of authenticated and updated foreign laws relating to divorce, annulment and nullity of marriage. The repository, to be developed through cooperation involving the Office of the Court Administrator and the Department of Foreign Affairs, will help parties challenging a foreign divorce obtain the legal documents needed to support their objections. The agreement establishing the repository was approved on July 1, with its formal signing scheduled for October 21. The amendments will take effect 15 days after they are posted on the Supreme Court website. n
Southern California Regional Rail Authority PAUNAWA SA PAMPUBLIKONG PAGDINIG FY2026-27 TAUNANG BADYET Ang Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), na nangangasiwa sa Metrolink passenger rail system, ay magsasagawa ng pampublikong pagdinig tungkol sa panukalang taunang badyet nito para sa Taóng Piskal 2026– 2027. Tatalakayin ang pagdinig na ito sa pulong ng Lupon ng SCRRA sa:: Oktubre 23, 2026, alas-10:00 ng umaga. Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board Room na matatagpuan sa: One Gateway Plaza, 3rd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90012 Maaaring suriin ng publiko ang mga kopya ng panukalang Taunang Badyet para sa Taóng Piskal 2026–2027 sa tanggapan ng SCRRA sa 900 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1500, Los Angeles, CA 90017, mula Oktubre 9 hanggang Oktubre 23, 2026, Lunes hanggang Biyernes, alas-9:00 ng umaga hanggang alas-5:00 ng hapon. Makukuha rin ito sa elektronikong format sa aming website na www. metrolinktrains.com. 10/10/26 CNS-4082737# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)
edd.ca.gov
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Treasury opens investment accounts for 60 million... Percy Lapid’s son in U.S. immigration custody... PAGE 1 Treasury announced the completion of automatic enrollment on October 1. The accounts were authorized under legislation enacted in July 2025, and contributions began in July 2026. President Donald Trump promoted the expansion at a White House event on October 7. About 164,000 of the newly established accounts had been claimed in the first week, according to remarks attributed to Helen Morrison, benefits tax counsel at Treasury, at an American Bar Association tax meeting on October 8. Morrison spoke in her personal capacity. The preliminary figure applies to the roughly 60 million automatically created accounts, not the program's entire enrollment history, and has not been independently confirmed in a published Treasury statistical release. The accounts are a specialized form of traditional individual retirement account for eligible children younger than 18 with valid Social Security numbers. General account eligibility is different from eligibility for federal starter money. Parents or other legally authorized individuals can claim an automatic account through the official Trump Accounts app or website, subject to identity and authority checks. After claiming, they must complete the receiving account's activation process before arranging contributions from family members or employers. Program guidance says an adult may use a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number when accessing the account. An unclaimed account is not necessarily unfunded. Temporary Treasury regulations allow certain approved government and charitable contributions to reach automatic accounts before they are claimed. In limited circumstances, an account may also receive the $1,000 federal starter payment after an eligible person has made the required election but before account activation. The $1,000 federal payment is restricted to qualifying U.S. citizen children born from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2028, who have valid Social Security numbers. An authorized person must make a separate election, through IRS Form 4547 or an approved online process. Children born outside that period can have accounts but do not
qualify for the federal pilot contribution; the election is also subject to qualifying-child requirements. The White House said October 7 that more than $4.5 billion had been deposited into Trump Accounts since contributions began. It reported approximately $1.3 billion in federal payments, more than $600 million from families and friends, and $2.6 billion in philanthropic contributions. These are administration-reported figures, not an independent audit of the program. Michael and Susan Dell have committed $6.25 billion to provide $250 each to 25 million children born from 2016 through 2024. The privately funded gifts are separate from the federal $1,000 payments and are not available to every child with an account. According to Invest America, a group providing information about the program, the Dell contributions were allocated by ZIP code, starting with the lowest-income areas and extending to those with median family incomes of approximately $118,000 or less, based on Census Bureau data. The measure is the median family income of the area, not an individual household's income. Eligible children residing on military bases were included. Families that enrolled before October 1 remain subject to the earlier eligibility rules. Invest America said the Dell deposits were expected to be completed by the end of Friday, October 9, and advised families to check their children's accounts the following week. No separate application is needed for that contribution. Funds have also been reserved for children in foster care, with deposits expected in 2027 as arrangements are finalized. Families and friends may generally contribute a combined total of up to $5,000 a year per child under current rules. Qualifying employer contributions of up to $2,500 count toward that limit. The federal starter payment and certain approved government and nonprofit contributions do not count toward the $5,000 ceiling. During the childhood investment period, ordinary contributions generally must be held in eligible low-cost funds tracking indexes of predominantly U.S. stocks. Treasury selected State Street's SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 exchange-traded fund as the initial default. Automatically created
accounts that remain unclaimed are administered through a pooled investment trust. Market losses are possible, and investment gains are not guaranteed. Temporary Treasury regulations that took effect September 30 also permit approved donations of shares in individual publicly traded U.S. companies. The shares generally must be held until the earlier of five years after the contribution or the end of the childhood investment period, subject to exceptions. An individual stock can expose a beneficiary to risks not present to the same degree in a diversified fund. Withdrawals are generally restricted during the growth period, which ends December 31 of the year a beneficiary turns 17, apart from specified exceptions. Beginning January 1 of the calendar year in which the beneficiary turns 18, ordinary traditional IRA rules generally apply. Some withdrawals may be subject to income tax and an additional 10 percent early-distribution tax; an exception to that additional tax does not necessarily remove ordinary income tax. For children receiving Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Administration policy generally excludes Trump Account balances from countable resources during the childhood period. The balances generally become countable on January 1 of the year the beneficiary turns 18. Qualifying beneficiaries may transfer the full balance directly to an ABLE account during the calendar year they turn 17, subject to applicable rules. Jin Huang, the Irving Louis Horowitz Professor in Social Policy and co-director of the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis, welcomed automatic enrollment in comments published by the university October 6. He cautioned that the need for parents to claim accounts and separately elect federal contributions could leave some eligible children, particularly those from low-income households, without the funds available to them. The program's eventual financial effect will depend on claims, contributions and investment results. Children whose families can afford recurring deposits may accumulate larger balances than those relying on government or charitable contributions alone, although actual outcomes will vary. (AJPress)
PAGE 1 2 appearance. Under federal immigration court procedures, bond proceedings are separate from the underlying immigration case. An immigration judge may determine whether an eligible detainee can be released while the case proceeds. The Adelanto Immigration Court is administered by the Executive Office for Immigration Review, an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Department of Homeland Security, is holding Mabasa. In response to an inquiry from the Asian Journal, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles said: “The details of Mr. Mark Mabasa’s case are being handled by his lawyer. “The Consulate General is closely coordinating with Mr. Mabasa, his family, and his lawyer but will not provide updates in observance of privacy laws and in deference to the family's request for privacy.” The consulate did not provide additional information about Mabasa’s immigration proceedings. Mabasa is a Filipino singer who was among the finalists on the first season of “The X Factor Philippines” in 2012. Since moving to the United States, he has continued performing, including at Filipino American community events nationwide. Human Rights Watch reported that Mabasa went to the United States in February 2023 after receiving death threats following his father’s killing and sought asylum. His uncle, journalist Roy Mabasa, told the organization that Mark holds U.S. employment authorization. Human Rights Watch also reported that Mabasa had performed in Chicago earlier in September and was detained by ICE after returning to Los Angeles. Sen. Risa Hontiveros has urged the Philippine government to assist Mabasa and called for his release. She said she had raised his case with Philippine and U.S. diplomatic officials. Killing of Percy Lapid Percival Mabasa, professionally known as Percy Lapid, was a veteran radio broadcaster and commentator who hosted “Lapid Fire.” He was 63 when he was shot and killed near his home in
Las Piñas City on Oct. 3, 2022. Police said gunmen riding a motorcycle attacked Lapid while he was inside his vehicle. The Philippine National Police formed a special investigation task force following the killing. Investigators examined Lapid’s work as a possible motive. In November 2022, then-Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said authorities were looking at Lapid’s “Cinderella Man” report concerning then-Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag’s alleged wealth and properties as a possible trigger for the killing. That remained an investigative theory, not an adjudicated finding against Bantag. Alleged prison communications chain The investigation later extended into New Bilibid Prison after authorities alleged that arrangements for Lapid’s killing were relayed through a chain of prison officials, inmates and contacts outside the facility. The National Bureau of Investigation said sworn statements from inmates showed what investigators described as a direct line of communication from Bantag and then-Bureau of Corrections deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta to inmate Denver Mayores, who communicated with inmate Alvin Labra. Investigators said Labra then coordinated with prison gang leader Aldrin Galicia. Authorities alleged that Galicia used gang members and contacts outside New Bilibid Prison, eventually leading to Joel Escorial and the group accused of carrying out the shooting. Those allegations formed part of the government’s prosecution theory and should not be read as findings of guilt against defendants whose cases have not been adjudicated. Bantag denied involvement. Zulueta also denied the accusations, including allegations that he contacted Mayores and the other inmates. Zulueta died in March 2024 before the criminal case against him was resolved. Investigators also identified New Bilibid Prison inmate Cristito “Jun” Villamor as an alleged intermediary between prison contacts and the gunmen. Villamor died inside the prison on Oct. 18, 2022, the same day Escorial was publicly presented after admitting his role in Lapid’s killing. Authorities separately
pursued murder charges arising from Villamor’s death. Prosecutors subsequently found probable cause to charge Bantag and several others with murder in connection with u PAGE 7
LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (LACMTA) REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL LACMTA will receive Proposals for PS145628 - Federal Advocacy Services solicitation submitted electronically via email to bids@metro.net. A Virtual Pre-Proposal conference will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., Online Meeting: Microsoft Teams meeting Join: https://teams. m i c r o s o f t . c o m / meet/24889645306722?p=v2Wj3HCHVuZiISwXRS Meeting ID: 248 896 453 067 22 Passcode: Fz9yJ222 All Proposals must be submitted via email to bids@ metro.net, on or before 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, November 6, 2026. Time of receipt is determined by the date/time stamp imprinted upon the email system. It is recommended that proposers send their email(s) allowing for sufficient time to ensure that the proposer can meet the proposal's due date. Additionally, it is recommended that proposer's email(s) are sent with a Delivery and Read receipt for their records. Lastly, proposers should send a verification email to the named Contract Administrator of the RFP after the email submission(s) of proposal to bids@metro.net. For a copy of the Proposal/ Bid specification visit our Solicitation Page on our Vendor Portal at https://business.metro.net or for further information email Rohan Anderson at andersonr3@metro.net. 10/10/26 CNS-4083981# ASIAN JOURNAL (L.A.)
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244 apprehended in Philippine POGO Manila's economy remains above raids as trafficking probe widens P1 trillion as growth slows to 1.9% Authorities investigate suspected online scams and possible official involvement after raids on illegal gaming facilities in Mindanao by AJPress MANILA — Philippine authorities are investigating possible human trafficking, online fraud and government involvement following raids on suspected illegal offshore gaming operations in the southern Philippines, where the Bureau of Immigration reported apprehending 244 foreign nationals. The October 2 operations targeted facilities in Siay and Alicia, two municipalities in Zamboanga Sibugay province on the Zamboanga Peninsula in western Mindanao. Immigration officials described the raids as the country's largest crackdown this year on suspected illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators, commonly known as POGOs. The investigation has since expanded to determine whether some of those apprehended were victims of forced labor, whether the compounds were used for other illicit online activities and whether government officials facilitated their operations. On Wednesday, October 7, military personnel helped transport 50 foreign nationals from Pagadian Airport to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City for further processing. A Filipina was also reported among the passengers, bringing the group to 51. The transfer was part of efforts to identify possible trafficking victims and distinguish them from individuals suspected of organizing or managing the operations. The raids were conducted by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The targeted locations were in Barangay Kimos in Siay and Barangay Tandiong Muslim in Alicia. According to the BI's initial report, 113 foreign nationals were apprehended in Siay, including 110 Chinese nationals, two Cambodians and one person identified as being from Hong Kong. Another 131 were apprehended in Alicia, predominantly Chinese nationals, along with individuals
from Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar. The bureau said their identities and nationalities remained subject to verification. Other agencies have reported different preliminary totals, which have not been publicly reconciled. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said investigators were examining suspected human trafficking, physical abuse and coercion, along with online romance and investment fraud schemes allegedly conducted from the facilities. Authorities are assessing reports that some workers were recruited under misleading circumstances or compelled to participate in fraudulent online activities. Matibag said the NBI had also identified foreign nationals suspected of involvement in managing the operations. On October 6, he said four individuals were being brought to Manila for possible proceedings involving human trafficking allegations. The investigation is examining whether the compounds were used for coordinated online influence activities, commonly described as troll farms. The BI reported recovering approximately 3,000 mobile phones, 78 computer monitors, laptops and SIM cards from the Casa de Coco Pension House compound in Siay. Matibag subsequently cited a larger quantity of mobile phones and other telecommunications equipment recovered during the operations. The NBI is examining the devices to determine their use and potential connection to online fraud or other unlawful activities. Authorities have not announced a final forensic finding establishing that the compounds were used as troll farms. Investigators are also scrutinizing how the facilities were established and whether government officials played any role in permitting or supporting their operations. Matibag said the NBI intended to obtain construction permits and other local government records to determine whether any officials participated in unlawful
activities or violated anti-corruption laws. No particular government official has been publicly established as criminally responsible for the operations. Separately, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed police commanders to intensify intelligence operations against suspected offshore gaming and online scam networks. He instructed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Anti-Cybercrime Group to conduct follow-up inquiries into the Zamboanga Sibugay operations, including possible connections to similar facilities elsewhere in the country. The raids occurred nearly two years after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the nationwide shutdown of POGOs amid longstanding concerns about organized crime, online fraud and human trafficking linked to parts of the industry. Executive Order No. 74 formalized the prohibition in November 2024. Republic Act No. 12312, or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, subsequently established a statutory ban on offshore gaming operations and related activities. Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the BI would continue enforcing immigration laws against foreign nationals found to have violated the conditions of their stay. The bureau is investigating possible immigration violations, including unauthorized employment, improper documentation and illegal entry. Those found liable for deportable offenses may face removal proceedings and restrictions on future entry, subject to applicable legal requirements. Possible criminal violations involving human trafficking, financial fraud and other offenses are being investigated separately. Authorities have yet to announce final determinations on the individual roles of those apprehended, as investigators continue reviewing electronic evidence, immigration records and documents related to the establishment and operation of the compounds. n
PAUNAWA SA MGA BOTANTE SA PETSA NA PAGKATAPOS NITO, WALANG MGA ARGUMENTONG PABOR O LABAN SA MGA HAKBANG NG LUNGSOD ANG MAAARING ISUMITE SA CLERK NG LUNGSOD/MGA OPISYAL SA HALALAN IPINAPAAALAALA NA ANG PAUNAWA ay gaganapin sa Lungsod ng Cerritos sa Martes, Marso 2, 2027, kung saan isusumite sa mga botante ang sumusunod na Panukala: Panukala (Measure) L: Pagbabago ng petsa ng pangkalahatang halalan sa munisipyo at mga kaugnay na pag amyenda Dapat bang amyendahan ang Karta ng Lungsod ng Cerritos upang ilipat ang itinatag na pangkalahatang petsa ng halalan sa munisipyo sa Nobyembre ng bawat taon na may pantay na bilang, na pagsasamahin sa pangkalahatang halalan sa buong Estado, na magsisimula sa Martes, Nobyembre 7, 2028; at upang isaayos ang petsa ng taunang pagpili ng Alkalde at petsa ng pagsisimula ng termino ng Miyembro ng Konseho, upang umayon sa bagong schedule ng halalan na ito, at gumawa ng mga naaayon na mga pag amyenda na may kaugnayan dito?
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KARAGDAGANG PAUNAWA AY IBINIBIGAY na alinsunod sa Artikulo 4, Kabanata 3, Sangay 9 ng Kodigo ng Halalan ng Estado ng California, ang lehislatibong katawan ng Lungsod, o sinumang miyembro o mga miyembro nito na awtorisado ng katawan, o sinumang indibidwal na botante o tunay na asosasyon ng mga mamamayan, o anumang kombinasyon ng mga botante at asosasyon, ay maaaring maghain ng nakasulat na argumento, hindi para lalampas sa 300 na mga salita ang haba, kasama ang nakalimbag na pangalan at lagda ng may akda na nagsumite nito, o kung isinumite sa ngalan ng isang organisasyon, ang pangalan ng organisasyon, at ang nakalimbag na pangalan at lagda ng kahit isa sa mga pangunahing opisyal nito na siyang may akda ng argumento, pabor o laban sa mga hakbang ng Lungsod. PAKITANDAAN: Ang lahat ng mga may akda ng nakasulat na argumento ay dapat ilimbag ang kanilang pangalan at lagdaan ang mismong argumento at ilimbag ang kanilang pangalan at lagdaan ang “Deklarasyon na ihahain ng mga may akda ng mga argumento” na makukuha nang walang bayad sa Tanggapan ng Kalihim ng Lungsod/ Opisyal ng Halalan sa pamamagitan ng pagbisita sa Tanggapan sa City Hall o sa pamamagitan ng kahilingang ipadala sa pamamagitan ng email sa election2027@ cerritos.gov. KARAGDAGANG PAUNAWA AY IBINIBIGAY na, batay sa oras na makatwirang kinakailangan upang ihanda at ilimbag ang mga argumento at Gabay sa Impormasyon para sa Botante para sa halalan, itinakda ng Kalihim ng Lungsod/ Opisyal ng Halalan 5:00 ng hapon, Lunes, Oktubre 12, 2026, bilang petsa kung kailan walang anumang argumento pabor o laban sa mga hakbang ng Lungsod ang maaaring isumite sa Kalihim ng Lungsod/Opisyal ng Halalan para sa pag iimprenta at pamamahagi sa mga botante gaya ng nakasaad sa Artikulo 4. Ang mga argumento ay dapat isumite sa Kalihim ng Lungsod/Opisyal ng Halalan, kasama ang nakalimbag na pangalan at lagda ng may akda (author) na nagsumite nito, o kung isinumite sa ngalan ng isang organisasyon, ang pangalan ng organisasyon, at ang nakalimbag na pangalan at lagda ng kahit isa sa mga pangunahing opisyal nito na siyang author ng argumento, sa ang Tanggapan ng Kalihim ng Lungsod/Opisyal ng Halalan ng Cerritos, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Unang Palapag, Bulwagan ng Lungsod, Cerritos, California. Maaaring baguhin o bawiin ang mga argumento hanggang at kasama ang petsang itinakda ng Kalihim ng Lungsod/Opisyal ng Halalan, na 5:00 p.m., Lunes, Oktubre 12, 2026. KARAGDAGANG PAUNAWA na ipinasiya ng Konseho ng Lungsod na ang mga argumentong sumasagot, na hindi hihigit sa 250 na mga salita ang haba, na isinumite ng mga may akda (author) ng magkasalungat na direktang argumento, ay maaaring ihain sa clerk, kasama ang nakalimbag na pangalan at lagda ng may akda (author) na nagsumite nito, o kung isinumite sa ngalan ng isang organisasyon, ang pangalan ng organisasyon, at ang nakalimbag na pangalan at lagda ng kahit isa sa mga pangunahing opisyal nito na siyang may akda ng argumento, hindi lalampas sa 5:00 pm, Huwebes, Oktubre 22, 2026 . KARAGDAGANG PAUNAWA NA ANG ABISO na ang anumang ordinansa, walang kinikilingang pagsusuri, o direktang (pangunahing) argumento na inihain sa ilalim ng awtoridad ng kodigo ng halalan ay maaaring masuri ng publiko sa Tanggapan ng Kalihim ng Lungsod/Opisyal ng Halalan nang hindi bababa sa 10 araw ng kalendaryo mula sa huling araw ng paghahain. ang paghahain ng mga argumento at pagsusuri/mga pagsusuri. /s/ Cynthia Nava, Opisyal ng Lungsod/Eleksyon
Philippine capital ranks third among city economies, but 2025 expansion trails national and Metro Manila rates by AJPress MANILA — Manila's economy surpassed P1 trillion for the second consecutive year in 2025, although growth slowed markedly from the previous year and fell below the national and Metro Manila averages, according to figures released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The capital's gross domestic product (GDP) reached P1.06 trillion, compared with P1.04 trillion in 2024. Economic growth slowed to 1.9 percent from 5.4 percent a year earlier, based on the PSA's October 6 report. The figures are measured at constant 2018 prices to account for inflation. Manila remained the country's third-largest city economy, behind Quezon City, which recorded P1.40 trillion in output, and Makati, with P1.27 trillion.
Including provinces, Manila ranked fourth nationwide, behind Laguna, whose economy reached P1.14 trillion. These four economies were the only provinces or highly urbanized cities to exceed the trillion-peso threshold in 2025. Manila accounted for 4.6 percent of the Philippines' total economic output, although its 1.9 percent growth lagged the 4.4 percent national expansion and Metro Manila's approximately 4.4 percent increase. Services remained the city's principal economic sector, accounting for 77.4 percent of GDP, while industry contributed 22.6 percent, according to the Manila city government. Transportation and storage posted the fastest industry growth at 10 percent, followed by human health and social work activities at 9.4 percent and edu-
cation at 6.4 percent. Performance was weaker elsewhere. Construction contracted by 4.8 percent, while electricity, steam, water and waste management declined by 1.4 percent. Wholesale and retail trade grew by 0.4 percent, and manufacturing expanded by 0.1 percent. Across Metro Manila, all 16 highly urbanized cities and the municipality of Pateros recorded economic growth in 2025. Pasig posted the region's fastest expansion at 5.8 percent, followed by Pasay at 5.5 percent. The PSA also reported that Manila's GDP per capita reached P565,047, an increase of 1.6 percent from 2024 and above the Metro Manila average. GDP per capita measures economic output relative to population and does not represent residents' average income or wages. n
Percy Lapid’s son in U.S. immigration custody... PAGE 5 Lapid’s killing. Several defendants have since been convicted. New Bilibid Prison gang leaders Aldrin Galicia, Alvin Labra and Alfie Peñaredonda pleaded guilty as accessories to Lapid’s murder and received prison terms of up to eight years. Denver Mayores, an inmate who initially faced a murder complaint as a principal by indispensable cooperation, later pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of accessory to murder. In December 2023, the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court sentenced him to two to eight years in prison. The Justice Department said Mayores’ case formed part of the alleged network of prison contacts involved in arranging the killing. Escorial, who admitted shooting Lapid, was sentenced by a Las Piñas court in May 2024 to between eight years and eight months and 16 years in prison. Bantag has not been convicted in the Lapid case and remains wanted by Philippine authorities. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remul-
la said in May 2026 that Interpol had issued a Red Notice for him. A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally
arrest a wanted person pending possible extradition, surrender or other legal proceedings. It is not an international arrest warrant. n
ABISO TUNGKOL SA MGA NOMINADO PARA SA PAMPUBLIKONG POSISYON SA PAMAMAGITAN NITO AY IPINABABATID na ang mga sumusunod na indibidwal ay nominado para sa mga itinalagang posisyon na pupunan sa Pangkalahatang Halalang Munisipal na gaganapin sa Lungsod ng Buena Park sa Martes, Nobyembre 3, 2026. PARA SA MIYEMBRO NG KONSEHO NG LUNGSOD – DISTRITO #2 BUMOTO NG ISA Carlos Franco Yong “Chuy” Choi PARA SA MIYEMBRO NG KONSEHO NG LUNGSOD – DISTRITO #5 BUMOTO NG ISA Sharena Walker Brandon Schooner Adria M. Vicuña, MMC Klerk ng Lungsod, Opisyal ng Halalan/ Direktor ng Pamahalaan at Ugnayan sa Komunidad
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OCTOBER 10 - 16, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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Beyond the POGO ban: Dismantling the networks that remain A ban is a legal act. Dismantling the networks that survive it is a test of governing capacity. That is the larger lesson from the apprehension of 244 foreign nationals in Zamboanga Sibugay on Oct. 2 during operations targeting suspected activities linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators, or POGOs. POGOs were businesses that conducted online gambling from the Philippines primarily for customers abroad. PAGCOR brought the sector under a licensing system in 2016. By August 2019, the regulator said it had licensed 58 operators employing more than 130,000 people and had received nearly P12 billion in remittances from 2016 through 2018. But the expansion also exposed serious enforcement problems. Authorities increasingly encountered illegal operators and criminal activity associated with some POGO-linked operations, including fraud, money laundering and human trafficking. PAGCOR stopped accepting new license applications in 2019 while reviewing concerns involving security, legality and the social effects of the industry. The government ultimately abandoned the regulatory model. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a nationwide ban in 2024, and Executive Order No. 74 required licensed offshore gaming operations to cease by Dec. 31 of that year. Repub-
lic Act No. 12312, the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, later made offshore gaming operations unlawful. The policy question has therefore changed. The issue is no longer whether POGOs should be allowed to operate legally, but how government should respond when illegal remnants become smaller, more mobile and harder to detect. The Zamboanga Sibugay operation illustrates the challenge. The Bureau of Immigration said simultaneous operations in Siay and Alicia targeted suspected POGO-related activities. At the Siay site, authorities recovered 78 computer monitors, roughly 3,000 mobile phones, laptops, SIM cards and other technical devices that the bureau said were believed to have been used for online scams. The allegations remain under investigation. Immigration violations have not been finally adjudicated, possible human trafficking offenses are being examined, and individual culpability must be established through evidence. Most of those apprehended were reported to be Chinese nationals, but nationality is not evidence of criminal responsibility. The Anti-POGO Act recognizes that an illegal operation can depend on more than the people found inside a site. The law prohibits aiding, protecting
Editorial
babe’s eye view Babe Romualdez
WE call our overseas Filipino workers modern-day heroes, and rightly so. Their sacrifices sustain families, educate children and help keep our economy moving. But when a worker faces an abusive employer, an immigration problem or a criminal accusation in a foreign country, praise offers little protection. What that person needs is competent legal counsel, available promptly and able to act where the case is being heard. This is why I believe the budget of the Department of Migrant Workers must be increased to strengthen access to experienced, reputable lawyers in countries and localities where our workers live and work. Legal protection should be a dependable government service, with resources commensurate with responsibilities we have assumed toward our citizens overseas. I have been in touch with Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who I hope will champion this advocacy. My hope is that she and her colleagues will help translate this concern into a practical budgetary commitment. Protecting Filipino workers abroad should
PEDDLER OF HOPE George Royeca ON Aug. 20, 2025, the President of the Philippines stood on a riverbank in Barangay Piel, Baliwag, Bulacan. Public Works records said a 220 meter river wall had been built there for P55.7 million, finished on June 30 and paid. In front of him was the river and nothing else. “Kahit isang araw hindi nagtrabaho,” he said. Not even one day of work. The district engineer later told a House hearing that he had signed the completion certificate without inspecting the site. Bulacan floods every rainy season, and some of its towns sit in water for weeks. The families there, like families everywhere, pay about P4 of every P10 of their medical bills themselves. The wall that was never built was supposed to protect them. The money that paid for it came from them. Remember that riverbank. It explains our economy better than
ManilaTimes.net photo
or abetting offshore gaming, including allowing buildings, computer systems, digital platforms and other facilities to be used for prohibited activities. It also covers specified acts involving fraudulent travel documents and treats violations of the law as unlawful activity under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. That framework should guide enforcement. Raids remain necessary when supported by evi-
Our migrant workers deserve SOCIAL CLIMATE more than gratitude command support across political lines. Their families deserve to know the government takes their security seriously, regardless of political affiliation. There is already a foundation on which to build. Republic Act 11641, which created the Department of Migrant Workers, established the AKSYON Fund for legal and other assistance to OFWs. The department’s assistance framework includes engaging lawyers and paying attorney’s fees and litigation expenses for employment disputes, immigration matters, criminal cases, illegal recruitment and trafficking. The challenge is to make this protection accessible and effective when needed. A legal assistance program must be judged by what happens to the worker who asks for help. How quickly is the request assessed? Is a qualified lawyer available nearby? Can counsel intervene before an important deadline passes? Does the worker understand the advice being given? These questions should guide decisions about funding and the delivery of services. Consider a domestic worker seeking unpaid wages, a seafarer unjustly deported and blacklisted or contesting an employment
claim, or a caregiver threatened after reporting abuse. Each situation requires its own assessment. A worker may hesitate to complain because losing a job could mean losing accommodation or facing uncertainty about immigration status. Early consultation can help identify lawful options before fear forces an uninformed decision. Experienced local counsel matters because legal systems differ. A Filipino lawyer can provide valuable guidance, but representation before a foreign court or tribunal may require a lawyer licensed in that jurisdiction. Familiarity with local labor laws, procedures and available remedies can be decisive. We should engage counsel with the relevant expertise and a demonstrated commitment to serving vulnerable clients. The United States illustrates the importance of matching expertise to location. Employment and immigration concerns can involve different authorities and procedures, and appropriate legal responses depend on the facts. From Washington, my conviction is that diplomatic support works best when it can connect a Filipino facing difficulty with the u PAGE 10
Who should be the next president of the Philippines? any lecture. Multiply the wall. Between July 2022 and May 2025 the government spent P545 billion on flood control. Fifteen contractors took a fifth of it. By October 2025, inspectors had checked 8,000 projects and found 421 that did not exist. The central bank governor says growth last year would have been 4.7 percent instead of 4.4 without it. Now go back to 1960. That year the average Filipino earned $269, more than the Malaysian and far more than the Korean, who earned $159. Today the Korean earns about $36,000, the Malaysian $13,000 and the Filipino about $4,200. Even Thailand and Indonesia have passed us. This was not bad luck. For 60 years we were out governed, and the riverbank in Baliwag shows how. The 2026 budget is P6.8 trillion, and P950 billion of it goes to interest on debt, more than the entire health and social welfare budgets combined. The national
debt is now about 66 percent of GDP, the highest in more than two decades. We borrow to fund the leak, pay interest on the leak, then borrow again. The deficit and the corruption are not two problems. They are one problem seen from two sides. Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and India were all corrupt while they grew. The difference is what the bribe bought. There, corruption was a tax on production. A firm paid for its permit, then built the factory, hired the workers and exported. Here, corruption became a substitute for production. The money is made inside the budget itself: the insertion, the ghost project, the contractor who is also the legislator. When the surest road to wealth runs through the budget, talent goes into politics, not enterprise. Manufacturing is 15 percent of our economy, against 27 percent in Korea. We consume, we remit, we import. We do not build. u PAGE 10
Mahar Mangahas THE effort to improve the wellbeing of the Filipino people is not a competition against any other people. It is not some kind of contest or sport, with winners and losers, and their corresponding statistics. Rather, it is an effort to improve the lives of Filipinos at present compared to their lives in the past. It is also an effort to prepare for the tasks of maintaining and further advancing Filipino well-being in the future. To measure progress from the past, the statistics for scoring well-being should obviously be periodic. They should have been measured in the past, and the records permanently kept; they should tell about the present, and keep telling about the future as it happens. Ranking is incidental. There’s no need to aspire for a high world ranking in “Happiness,” for instance. Finland is the perennial No. 1 in the World Happiness Index, but that’s no reason to envy the Finns. I think the 0-10 scale, “from the lowest possible to the highest possible satisfaction with life,” just happens to work well in
ON THE MOVE
Segundo Eclar Romero THE Philippines does not lack people who care. Every day, millions of Filipinos demonstrate compassion through volunteering, donations, community initiatives, disaster response, and countless acts of kindness. Our young people are passionate about issues they care about: climate change, poverty, education, health, inequality, corruption, and social justice. But caring alone is not enough. The country’s most difficult problems cannot be solved by goodwill alone. They are wicked problems—problems that are interconnected, constantly changing, and shaped by multiple systems, institutions, behaviors, and historical conditions. Poverty is not only a lack of income. It is connected to education, health, housing, transportation, employment, governance, and social protection. Flooding is not only a drainage problem. It is connected to land use, settle-
dence and lawful authority, but the number of people apprehended or devices seized cannot be the principal measure of success. Investigators must be able to trace financial flows, preserve digital evidence, identify connections among sites and combine immigration, corporate, property and financial records into a coherent case. Enforcement must also reach beyond workers u PAGE 10
We compete against the past Scandinavia, including Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Consider the alternative of ACSA. An alternative life-satisfaction scale is from -5 to +5, “from the best time in one’s past life to the worst time in one’s past life.” Very few Filipinos give a negative answer to this scale (see “Social Weather Report: Anamnestic Self-Assessment (ACSA) falls to record low +1.72 in November 2025, surpassing previous low of +1.97 in May 2021,” www.sws. org.ph, 3/30/26). The ACSA median response has been steady at 3.00 during 2017-2025, though it was not surveyed in 2020 due to the pandemic. The ACSA arithmetic mean started at 2.82 in 2017, and by 2023 was back at 2.76 before falling again last year. Whatever the scale, an advance from the past is good, and backsliding is a problem that needs fixing. Well-being has many dimensions. The United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (sdgs.un.org) make a highly acceptable agenda. The first five, and surely the most important, are: 1. No poverty, 2. Zero hunger, 3. Good health, 4. Quality education, and 5. Gender equality. Their general priority is to minimize the number who are badly off, rather than to maximize
the number who are well-off: to eliminate child wasting and stunting; to reduce infant mortality; to achieve universal completion of basic education—first junior high school, then senior high school; to equalize opportunities by gender. One can discern good governance as an implicit goal. The statistics should refer to people, rather than to things like production. Getting awards in areas of human endeavor is certainly good for national pride. In fact, one of our three most important sources of pride is achievements in sports (“Sports and national pride,” and “Pride from international sports,” inquirer.net, 12/7/19 and 8/3/24), in addition to our history and our achievements in the arts. However, the enhancement of national pride per se is not among the SDGs. Social Weather Stations (SWS) measures what it can, within its resources; its most important surveys are the quarterlies, which is the most we can afford to do. Other institutions are welcome to fill the gaps and to compete in subjects we already work on. Being a market-oriented economist, I believe that competition benefits both demanders and suppliers. The SWS data are addressed to u PAGE 10
Thinking like a mayor ments, livelihoods, ecosystems, climate change, infrastructure, and political decisions made over decades. The challenge is therefore not only to produce citizens who care. The greater challenge is to produce citizens who can see the whole system and act within it. This is why we need to promote one simple but powerful habit of mind: Think like a mayor. Not because everyone should become a mayor. But because the mayoral perspective represents one of the highest forms of social responsibility. A mayor cannot afford to think in silos. A mayor cannot say: “Education is DepEd’s problem.” “Health is DOH’s problem.” “Flooding is DPWH’s problem.” “Poverty is DSWD’s problem.” The mayor inherits the reality that all these problems exist simultaneously in one place, affecting the same families, the same communities, and the same future. The mayor must ask: Who are the people affected? Why are they experiencing these difficulties? What systems produce these conditions? Who must work together to create solu-
tions? What resources are available? What happens if we succeed? What happens if we fail? This is systems thinking applied to public responsibility. Thinking like a mayor transforms how we understand social responsibility. At the most basic level, social responsibility begins with responding to suffering. We provide relief. We help people survive. This is necessary. But mature social responsibility moves further. The next question is: How do we help people build capabilities to improve their own lives? This means investing in education, skills, livelihoods, health, and opportunities. The next level is: How do we help communities organize themselves so they influence decisions that affect their lives? This requires participatory governance, empowered communities, and citizens who are not merely recipients of programs but partners in development. The highest level is: What future are we creating for the next generations? This is where sustainability, resilience, and intergenerational responsibility emerge. u PAGE 10
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The Luzon Economic Corridor Is dual citizenship worth it? Here's what needs one plan, not another map to know about its benefits and drawbacks by Scott Campbell
by John Patrick Magno
AT the Luzon Economic Corridor forum last month, one request stood apart from the rest of the program. The subject-matter expert who oversees where cargo actually moves in the Philippines said he wished the corridor had one master plan. He was not asking for another map. The government has already drawn the belt: Subic Bay on the west, Clark and New Clark City inland, Manila on the bay, Batangas to the south. It has listed ports, railways, airports, power lines, and industrial parks. Investors were invited to choose from the list. That is a menu. A master plan is different. It is a sequence. It says what must happen first, who is late when a date slips, and how a box of goods leaves a factory and reaches a ship. Without that, the corridor is four locations joined by hope and by trucks. Most cargo in this belt still moves on rubber. The freight railway that would tie Subic, Clark, Manila and Batangas together is still being studied. That study matters. It will not carry a container this year or next. The passenger railway now being built will move workers. It will not move factory lots. Those are two jobs. Naming them in the same speech does not put them on the same track. Clark’s airport is the exception. Air cargo there is already growing. Courier companies are expanding. A second runway is in design. If a factory in New Clark City needs to fly a high-value shipment in the next few years, the airport can help. If it needs to send heavy loads to a port every week, it will use the same expressways everyone else uses. That is not a scandal. It is the calendar. An honest plan would say so on one page. Adding more projects will not fix this. We have plenty of projects. What the belt needs are four plain rules a mayor, a plant manager, and a customs officer can all read. First, put the work in order. Say clearly what the next five years will run on trucks and aircraft, and what must wait for the freight railway. Do not sell a tenant a train that does not exist. Do not tell a town the trucks will disappear next year. Publish the order. Update it when a study slips. People can live with a slow railway. They cannot live with a story that
Having citizenship in two countries can sound like the best of both worlds. That's what Karla LaPenta felt when she officially became a dual citizen of the US and the Philippines in March earlier this year. For LaPenta, it was about honoring her connection to both countries. “My decision came from my deep love and loyalty to both the Philippines and the United States. They represent two cultures, two stories, and two places I will always call home," she told PhilSTAR L!fe. "I also have two children who are dual citizens, and I want them to grow up knowing and appreciating their Filipino roots while embracing their lives in America," she added. Her sentiments were also shared by Jess Oculam Pines, who achieved her dual citizenship as a Filipino-Canadian in August. “The Philippines will always be my home. Even though I became a Canadian citizen and built my life here in Canada, I never wanted to lose my connection to my Filipino roots, culture, family, and country," she said. "I also wanted to have the freedom to travel back to the Philippines and maintain my rights and connection to my home country," she added. While the process involved preparing forms and documents carefully, she highlighted that it was a meaningful experience "It took some patience, but when I finally completed the process and became a dual citizen, I felt so proud and emotional. It was truly a special moment for me because it felt like I was officially keeping both parts of my identity," Pines underscored. How dual citizenship works Beyond the personal connection, holding dual citizenship also comes with practical implications. Immigration lawyer Atty. Novie Onor told L!fe that dual citizenship means that two countries recognize you as their citizen at the same time. "Each country applies its own laws to that relationship. You generally have the right to enter, live, and work in both countries, but you also remain subject to their applicable legal obligations," he said. It's important to distinguish between people who hold two citizenships from birth and those who became foreign citizens through naturalization. "Under Republic Act No. 9225, natural-born Filipinos who lost Philippine citizenship through foreign naturalization may reacquire it by completing the prescribed process and taking an oath of allegiance. Filipino ancestry alone does not establish eligibility under this particular law," Onor explained. He highlighted that the greatest advantage of having a dual citizenship is the "freedom to make longterm decisions with more options available to you." "For someone whose family and livelihood span two countries, that can be significant. You may build a career overseas while preserving the ability to return to the Philippines, care for your parents, establish a business, or eventually retire at home," Onor said. By reacquiring Philippine citizenship, this restores important rights, such as owning land as a Filipino, obtaining a Philippine passport, and voting after meeting the applicable registration and eligibility requirements. However, business activities and professional practice remain subject to the relevant laws and licensing requirements.
Philstar.com
Philstar.com
The New Clark City in Tarlac is being touted as a green, smart, and disaster-resilient urban community development project of the BCDA. BCDA file photo
changes at every ceremony. Second, name the person who owns the calendar. Not a company that owns Luzon. Not another layer of bureaucracy. One official whose job is to say, this quarter, which link is the bottleneck — the rail study, the Clark runway, the fuel line from Subic, the road into New Clark City — and to raise a missed date immediately. When everyone is in charge, no one is in charge. And the truck waits. Third, make the papers as simple as the road. A factory can sit on a good site and still lose a week because the zone, the freeport, and Customs keep three different files on the same shipment. Shippers already know this. Families feel it in the price of goods. The country is also trying to connect its clearance systems with its ASEAN neighbors. That only works if a shipment inside Clark is visible to national Customs as it happens, not after a pile of letters. Create one path for the papers. Publish how long cargo sits at Clark air cargo and at Subic and Batangas. Fourth, try the rules in one place before asking the whole island to follow them. New Clark City is the right test. It is already a planned city on public land. Part of that land has been offered for advanced manufacturing. The city is not the factory, and the factory is not the city. The city has a river park, housing and a long horizon. The industrial site is a campus that needs power, water, and a single gate. If government cannot run those as one process on that one site — one door for investors, a public list of power and water already approved, no construction ahead of the envi-
ronmental permit — how are we expected to believe it will run a four-port corridor? That is not asking Manila to bet the country on a slogan or an AI-generated map. It is asking Manila to prove a method on a few thousand hectares and then copy it. And host towns belong in the same plan. Capas, Bamban, and their neighbors will carry the traffic and the jobs. They should see a clear share of lease and tax revenue when the site works, not a bargaining chip when a permit is pending. People who live next to a project will support it faster if they can read the deal. None of this needs a new law or constitution. It needs a short operating plan for the Luzon belt, issued this quarter, with names and dates. The deal book can stay. The forum can stay. What cannot stay is the habit of announcing the corridor as if the trains were already running. When someone who works at the gates of the country’s trade asks for one master plan, that is a warning, not a theme for the next conference. Write the sequence. Name the clock. Unify the papers. Test it at New Clark City. Then the map on the brochure will finally match the road. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Scott Campbell is a non-resident fellow at the think tank Stratbase Institute and the founder of SilicaSentinel. Prior to his current role, he served as the operations manager for Samaritan’s Purse International Relief in the Middle East.
Philippine Catholic schools urged to strengthen safeguards against child abuse National study cited by educators found 80% of surveyed children and young adults had experienced violence by AJPress MANILA — The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) has called on Catholic schools to strengthen procedures for identifying and responding to child abuse, citing longstanding national evidence of violence against children and the need for coordinated protection services. The association urged schools to give greater attention to the government's revised protocol for managing cases involving child abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination, known as CANE+D. The framework sets out procedures for reporting suspected abuse, coordinating investigations and connecting affected children with appropriate services. CEAP referred to the government's Fourth National Plan of Action for Children, covering 2023 to 2028, which cites findings that 80 percent of Filipino children and young people surveyed had experienced some form of violence in their homes, schools, workplaces, communities or dating relationships. The figure originates from the 2015 National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children, conducted by the Council for the Welfare of Children with UNICEF. The research involved 3,866 re-
spondents ages 13 to 24 from 172 randomly selected villages nationwide. Its findings were released in 2016 and published in a peer-reviewed medical journal in 2022. Because the survey included young adults and was conducted more than a decade ago, its findings do not establish the prevalence of violence among Filipino children in 2026. Separate government figures underscore the volume of reported incidents. In 2023, the Philippine National Police's Women and Children Protection Center received 18,756 reports of violations of children's rights, including 17,304 involving violence against children, according to figures presented by the Council for the Welfare of Children in 2024. The totals represent reports received, not independently verified offenses or a measure of nationwide prevalence. Online abuse remains another concern. A 2022 study by UNICEF, ECPAT International and Interpol estimated that one in five internet-using Filipino children ages 12 to 17 had experienced online sexual abuse or exploitation during the preceding year. The revised CANE+D protocol, launched nationally by the Department of Justice in August 2025, updates guidelines introduced in 2013. It establishes a coordinated
DILG, CWC link Unified 911, MAKABATA 1383 for faster child protection response.
approach to identifying suspected abuse, managing cases and providing legal, medical and social welfare assistance. Provincial implementation initiatives followed in Cavite in March 2026 and Cebu in July. The Department of the Interior and Local Government also issued Memorandum Circular No. 2026-036 in June, directing local governments to adopt the revised procedures and establish coordinated referral and case-management systems. In a separate statement Thursday, October 8, UNICEF called for broader protections against online harm, emphasizing safer digital platforms, accessible reporting mechanisms and stronger child protection systems rather than relying solely on proposed social media restrictions. The Department of Education's Child Protection Policy, issued in 2012, already requires public and private elementary and secondary schools to maintain safeguards against abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination and bullying. CEAP said schools must be prepared to recognize warning signs, respond appropriately to disclosures and ensure that children receive protection and continuing by AJPress support. The association also emphasized specialized training for educators and other frontline MANILA, Philippines — A Makapersonnel involved in handling ti court has issued an arrest warrant suspected abuse. n for Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste over alleged violations of the Public Service Act involving his solar company’s congressional franchise. The Department of Justice clarified Oct. 8 that he had not yet been classified as a fugitive. His mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, has been on medical leave since Aug. 3, and her camp has requested an extension, according to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 235 issued the warrant Oct. 5, setting bail at P72,000. Prosecutors filed charges Sept. 29 against Leviste and Solar Para sa Bayan Corp. officers Hazel Iris Lafuente Buencamino and Irma Flaminiano under Section 25 of the Public Service Act. The Department of Energy alleges the company failed to provide DILG file photo electricity to remote or under-
"There is also a sense of belonging that deserves recognition. Many Filipinos have spent decades building lives abroad without losing their attachment to home. Reacquiring citizenship gives that enduring connection legal recognition," Onor emphasized. Fellow immigration lawyer Atty. Lou Janssen Dangzalan also pointed out that having a Philippine passport can provide additional travel options, depending on the destination. "The common issue for a lot of people is why would they want to have a Philippine passport if they already have an American or Canadian passport? But guess what? There are certain countries in the world where you can actually travel without a visa if you have a Philippine passport," he said. "Even some of the more powerful passports will still require you a visa to enter those particular countries," he added, citing Vietnam and Brazil. For dual citizens planning to spend more time in the Philippines, Dangzalan said reacquiring citizenship can also provide greater flexibility. "Kung i-retain mo lang ang American citizenship, you can come back to the Philippines. [You can probably] benefit from the Balikbayan visa. But that only allows you to stay for up to a year and you can't purchase property," he said. Benefits also extend to discounts for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. "You have to be a Filipino citizen to acquire and to avail those discounts." Complications of being a dual citizen While dual citizenship can open doors, it can also bring added responsibilities that are easy to overlook. Onor said that the main challenge is trying to manage obligations under two legal systems, which become especially important when someone has income, property, children, or business interests across borders. "You cannot simply choose which citizenship applies whenever one country’s rules become inconvenient. Depending on the countries involved, obligations may include tax reporting, civic duties, or military service," Onor said. Tax is a common concern. While dual citizenship does not automatically mean you are obligated to pay tax twice on the same income, Onor noted that there may be overlapping filing and reporting requirements. "US citizens, for example, are generally subject to US tax on worldwide income even when living overseas, although foreign tax credits and other relief may reduce the tax payable. Owing no additional tax does not necessarily mean there is nothing to file," he said. When it comes to healthcare and social benefits, where you live or contributions may affect access. Meanwhile, matters such as public office, marriage, divorce, and child custody might also get complicated with dual citizenship. "These are matters to understand before applying, particularly if a person is planning a permanent move or a major family decision," he added. Dangzalan also noted that dual citizens may have different options for seeking consular assistance when they are abroad. "Let's say you got in trouble there; there are two consular avenues that you can seek assistance from," he said, referring to the Philippine and other country’s embassies. However, the situation can be different when a dual citizen is in the Philippines. "In cases where you're already a
dual citizen, one of the things that you'll see when it comes to reacquisition and retention of Filipino citizenship is that you acknowledge that Philippine laws trump other laws," Dangzalan said. He explained that this can limit the assistance that a foreign embassy may be able to provide to a dual citizen facing legal trouble in the Philippines. How to apply for a dual citizenship in the Philippines For Filipinos who are thinking about getting dual citizenship, LaPenta and Pines both believe it is worth considering. "I value being able to belong to both nations and share that connection with my children. Ultimately, it’s a personal decision, but for me, it has been a meaningful one," LaPenta shared. Pines added, "Canada is now my home, and I’m very grateful to be Canadian. But the Philippines will always be a part of my heart and my identity. Getting dual citizenship made me feel like I didn’t have to choose between being Filipino and being Canadian. I can proudly be both." Per the Philippine embassy in Washington, DC, Filipinos living abroad can reacquire their Philippine citizenship as long as they are a former natural-born Filipino citizen who became a naturalized citizen of another country. Applicants generally need to schedule an appointment with the embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction over them. They should prepare their completed application form, birth certificate, foreign naturalization certificate, copies of their Philippine and foreign passports, and recent passport-size photographs. Then, they must personally appear, submit their completed application and supporting documents, pay the processing fee, and take an Oath of Allegiance before a Philippine consular officer. According to Dangzalan, one of the first things to consider is checking the laws of their other country before proceeding to see if they actually allow dual citizenship. "No country can dictate to other countries how they run their citizenship law... In theory, you could have as many citizenships as you like so long as those countries allow for it," he said. "Ang titignan mo lang is certain countries do actually penalize at the criminal level if you acquire another citizenship and you do not renounce your prior citizenship. I know that the People's Republic of China, for example, will not recognize and has also criminalized dual nationality. So there are certain countries that do criminalize it." Onor also advised applicants to review the current requirements of the relevant Philippine consulate or Bureau of Immigration and resolve inconsistencies in their records. "Differences in names, incomplete civil registry documents, and missing proof of naturalization can delay processing," he said. Another thing to be cautious about is using a Philippine passport after acquiring another citizenship. Dangzalan said that Filipinos who have acquired foreign citizenship should be aware that they may no longer be considered Philippine citizens until they complete the process to reacquire their citizenship. "That's actually an offense in the Philippines," he said. "They have to be very careful." Ultimately, Onor underscored that you should first consider what dual citizenship would mean for the life you actually intend to lead: where you will work, raise your family, hold assets, and retire. "Those questions matter far more than how many passports you can carry," he said.
Makati court issues arrest warrant for Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste in solar franchise case served communities under its 2019 congressional franchise. Republic Act No. 11357 made the nonexclusive franchise subject to the Public Service Act. The allegations have not been established in court. National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag called Leviste a fugitive Oct. 7. Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Herbert Calvin Abugan said the next day that legal procedures must be followed before making that determination. The DOJ said it had not begun passport-cancellation proceedings. The NBI said Buencamino and Flaminiano each posted P72,000 bail. Lawyer Antonio La Viña confirmed Oct. 9 that Leviste had not posted bail. La Viña said the congressman intends to return and appear in court but gave no date. He disputes the prosecution’s legal basis, arguing that the company is not a public utility covered by the criminal provision and that the Energy Department failed to issue implementing rules and identify
service areas. Leviste has been abroad since August. La Viña has said he was assisting Legarda while she received medical treatment in France. Separately, the Office of the Ombudsman is investigating plunder and graft allegations involving Leviste, Legarda and former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi over renewable-energy contracts. Investigators cited approximately P10.44 billion in alleged unpaid obligations from terminated projects. Both lawmakers filed counter-affidavits denying wrongdoing. A Commission on Audit review identified P10.77 billion in obligations associated with 37 terminated solar contracts, including about P10.39 billion attributed to companies in the Solar Philippines group founded by Leviste. These disputed contractual claims are not findings of criminal guilt. The court has scheduled arraignment for Oct. 26, although Leviste’s attendance has not been confirmed. n
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OCTOBER 10 - 16, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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We compete against the past... PAGE 8 everyone, in all sectors, public and private, domestic, and international. The best judges of their adequacy and quality are the Filipino people. Why is the Chinese government recalling its Chinese-language teachers from the Philippines? It occurs to me that these teachers, being academics, are in a good position to tell their friends and neighbors back in China the truth about their government’s
unjust and unlawful behavior in the West Philippine Sea. “How many of the Chinese people know about the 9-dash and 10-dash claims that their government is still making? How many of them know about the Philippine victory in the 2016 ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal on the Law of the Sea? How many of them know that their government refused to take part in the case that we raised at the tribunal? How many of them will fail to draw the
conclusion that their government knew from the start that it lacks evidence for its claims?” (see “What is Chinese public opinion?” inquirer.net, 7/19/25.) (Inquirer.net) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Email: mahar.mangahas@sws.org.ph
Who should be the next president... COURTESY VISIT. Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh arrives at Bicol International Airport and meets with Albay officials to explore partnerships for Bicol’s future, including a direct PHIsrael flight to boost tourist arrivals. Photo courtesy of Albay PTCAO
Go, Padilla take impeachment voting dispute to Supreme Court by AJPress MANILA: Senators Robinhood Padilla and Christopher “Bong” Go have asked the Supreme Court to overturn a Senate impeachment court ruling that could allow Vice President Sara Duterte to be convicted with fewer than 16 votes, renewing a dispute over the constitutional requirement for removing an impeachable official. In a petition for certiorari and prohibition filed October 6, the two senator-judges joined PDP-Laban, former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and several lawyers and private individuals in challenging the impeachment court’s September 23 decision. The case has been reported as docketed under G.R. No. E-08751. Article XI, Section 3(6) of the 1987 Constitution requires the concurrence of two-thirds of all Senate members for an impeachment conviction. The Constitution separately provides for a 24-member Senate. Padilla and Go argue that these provisions require at least 16 affirmative votes, irrespective of how many senators are able to take part in the final vote. The impeachment court voted
13-1 on September 23 to reconsider an earlier ruling by presiding officer Francis Escudero that fixed the conviction requirement at 16 votes. Six senator-judges did not participate in the September vote, including Padilla and Go. Under the revised interpretation, the two-thirds requirement would be calculated using senators legally and actually capable of participating when judgment is rendered. That does not automatically set a new, lower figure: the impeachment court would have to determine whether individual senators qualify for exclusion. The issue resurfaced after Senator Erwin Tulfo sought clarification of how the voting requirement would apply if senators could not participate because of legal restraints or other circumstances. The House prosecution previously said its duty to prove the impeachment allegations would remain the same regardless of the voting threshold. The new petition argues that senators do not cease to be members of the chamber because they are detained, suspended, ill or absent. The petitioners contend that excluding them from the calculation would improperly alter the constitutional standard. They seek a temporary restra-
ining order, a status quo ante order or preliminary injunctive relief while the court considers their challenge. The filing follows the Supreme Court’s September 30 dismissal of three earlier petitions brought by former Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, Berteni Cataluña Causing and lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. The court cited procedural grounds, including lack of legal standing and prematurity, without deciding whether the Senate’s interpretation was constitutional. Go and Padilla argue that their roles as sitting senator-judges give them a direct interest in the voting rule, unlike the private individuals behind the earlier challenges. Whether that distinction is sufficient to establish standing remains for the Supreme Court to decide. House prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan said on October 7 that the challenge was premature because the impeachment court had not yet voted on Duterte’s conviction or acquittal. Prosecution legal spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said the panel respected the petitioners’ right to seek judicial remedies but maintained that the Senate’s revised interpretation had a sound legal basis. n
PAGE 8 Nor is the private sector innocent. The 50 richest Filipinos are worth $79 billion, about a sixth of GDP, and those fortunes sit in power, water, telecoms, ports, malls and banks, where the decisive asset is proximity to government, not a better product. Our startups raised $119 million last year, two percent of Southeast Asia’s total. A country that exports the region’s best nurses and engineers cannot grow a hundred companies that matter. That is a sign of closed doors. Then there is the money Congress steers. Activists count nearly P700 billion in the 2026 budget that individual legislators inserted for projects of their choosing, parked in district engineering offices and soft programs. That is the real power of Congress: not what it spends on itself, but what it gets to decide for everyone else. So what does the job take? An operator. Someone who treats the budget as the country’s most important moral document and defends it line by line. Someone
who publishes every project, proponent and contractor on the day it is funded, so the next ghost wall is caught by a barangay captain with a phone, not by a president with a motorcade. Someone who takes the champions and the new companies public on the exchange, so that Filipinos own what gets built and a million small shareholders with audited books police what no regulator can. Korea did not get rich by eliminating corruption first. It got rich by making production more profitable than plunder. That is the whole job. And here is the hopeful part: everything the job needs, we already have. We have the workers. The world hires them every day. We have 1.2 million registered firms. We even have the money. Those P700 billion of insertions are roughly our health and social welfare budgets combined. We will not stop the leak in one term. But we can shrink it and point the pipe at the people, at a few programs big enough to carry the next generation: a well-fed child in its first thousand days, a
teacher in every classroom, a clinic that treats you before it asks how you will pay. Lee Kuan Yew said a nation is made great not by its size but by the will and cohesion of its people and the quality of its leaders. Nobody doubts the will of Filipinos, or our cohesion. Every typhoon proves it: the neighbor with the boat, the stranger with the rope, the barangay kitchen that feeds a street. What the people need is leadership of the same quality. That is the vote in 2028. So who should be president? Not the most popular. We have tried popular. Not the strongest. We have tried strong. The most responsible: the one who checks the wall before signing the check. The Filipino was never the problem. Give the builders a fair field, and watch what this country does. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
Our migrant workers deserve more...
PAGE 8 professional assistance the situation requires. Good intentions need practical support behind them. Our embassies, consulates and migrant workers offices have essential roles in assisting citizens and coordinating with host authorities. They should be supported by a dependable network of vetted lawyers, with clear arrangements for referrals and urgent cases. Where appropriate, partnerships with legal aid organizations, bar associations and community groups can extend that network. Volunteer assistance is valuable, but sustained government funding must carry the responsibility. An increased allocation should therefore come with a credible plan. The DMW should assess demand by country, identify gaps in legal coverage and establish reasonable arrangements for consultations and representation. Funding should recognize that complex proceedings can continue beyond a single budget cycle. A worker should not be left wondering whether an ongoing case will lose support before it reaches a conclusion. Accountability is equally necessary. Lawyers must be selected transparently, checked for conflicts of interest and evaluated
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for their quality of service. Fees and expenses should be documented. Congress should receive meaningful reports on response times, access to counsel and case progress while safeguarding confidential information. Success cannot be measured by favorable judgments alone; fair representation and informed decisions also matter. When workers receive sound advice early, they can preserve evidence, understand contracts and avoid actions that could weaken their position. Employers and recruiters should understand that Filipino workers have access to professional help when a legitimate grievance needs attention. Workers must also know how to seek help. Information should be understandable and available through channels they actually use. Procedures should allow urgent concerns to be assessed quickly, with safe communication for those who fear retaliation. Legal assistance should connect with shelter, interpretation and other support when necessary. A person in distress cannot always navigate several offices or assemble documents without guidance. We must respect the laws and judicial processes of host countries. Providing counsel does not
guarantee a particular outcome, nor does it excuse wrongdoing. It helps ensure that a Filipino understands the process, can present a defense or pursue a legitimate claim, and receives the protections available under applicable law. That is a responsible exercise of our duty to our citizens. For the families waiting at home, a legal crisis abroad is deeply personal. School fees, household expenses and hopes for the future may depend on the person suddenly facing that crisis. We should remember those families when deciding what protection deserves in the national budget. I hope Senator Hontiveros will help bring this advocacy forward. Our migrant workers carry enormous responsibilities for their families and our country. When their rights are threatened far from home, they should be able to count on their government to stand beside them, with a capable lawyer ready to help. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
Beyond the POGO ban...
physically present during a raid. If evidence establishes that property owners, businesses, recruiters, financiers or public officials knowingly enabled prohibited operations, accountability should extend to them. That is not guilt by association. Liability must rest on knowledge, participation and proof. The proposed National Anti-Scam Hub could strengthen that effort if it reduces the fragmentation that gives cybercriminal networks time to move money, accounts and evidence across institutions and jurisdictions. Its value will depend less on the number of agencies involved than on whether it produces faster lawful information sharing,
coordinated investigations and action before funds and digital trails disappear. The government must be equally precise in identifying victims. Scam centers across Southeast Asia have been linked to trafficking schemes in which people were recruited for legitimate-looking work and then coerced into committing online fraud. That reality makes screening essential when large groups are found inside suspected scam or offshore gaming compounds. A serious enforcement policy must distinguish organizers from employees, willing participants from trafficking victims, and financial beneficiaries from people working under coercion. It must identify who financed an oper-
ation, who knowingly provided infrastructure or protection, who profited from it and who may have been exploited, then build cases capable of surviving judicial scrutiny. The ban removed the legal foundation of the POGO industry. The harder work is dismantling the systems that can continue without licenses: financial channels, digital infrastructure, recruiters, property arrangements and protection networks. The measure of enforcement will not be whether government can close the next site. It will be whether operating an illegal offshore gaming network in the Philippines becomes too difficult, too risky and too costly to sustain. (AJPress)
Thinking like a mayor...
PAGE 8 A mayor must operate at all four levels simultaneously: responding to today’s needs, building tomorrow’s capabilities, transforming systems, and protecting the future. The mayoral mindset is also an antidote to a common weakness among young leaders: aspirations without operational competence. Many young people have admirable dreams: “I want to help communities.” “I want to change society.” “I want to make a difference.” These aspirations are important. But leadership requires more than intentions. It requires understanding relationships, incentives, institutions, resources, logistics, and implementation. A good idea that cannot mobilize people, organize resources, manage risks, measure results, and sustain partnerships re-
mains only an idea. Thinking like a mayor teaches the discipline of turning knowledge into action. This mindset is particularly important for the Filipino youth. Many leadership programs focus on developing individual excellence. This is necessary. But the Philippines needs something more: A generation of leaders who understand that their talents are not only personal assets. They are public resources. Scientists, engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs, professionals, and community organizers may never occupy elected office. Yet they can all think like mayors. Teaching people to think like mayors may also produce better mayors. A mayor who thinks like a mayor even before becoming one is already developing the mental discipline required for responsible governance. The
Philippines needs more citizens who are able and willing to step into positions of leadership. Random heroes will not solve the Philippines’ wicked problems. They will be solved by generations of citizens who can see connections, build relationships, mobilize resources, and work together across time. That is the promise of thinking like a mayor. It is not a pathway only for elected officials. It is a mindset for every Filipino who believes that the Philippines’ future is not merely inherited; it is something we collectively build. (Inquirer. net) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Email: doyromero@gmail.com
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Health @Heart Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS THE ongoing controversy, which started in 1970, fifty years ago, about men and transgender people in women’s sports appears to be a dilemma not only in the United States but around the world, including the Philippines. While brilliant leaders in society and in the government seem to be at a stalemate, and the equitable solution manifests as unattainable, I personally think, using common sense, the just remedy is simple and clear. I remember the days of decades past when there were only two sexes, female and male. There was no confusion, unlike today, where a woman candidate to the US Supreme Court did not even know her gender. For heaven’s sake, that is the highest judicial house, the pinnacle of brain power, whose members are supposed to be among the brightest minds in the country and who at least knew their sexual orientation lucidly; how this confused judge was able to join the other 8 was mind-boggling to me. A segment of modern society, seemingly oblivious of history, is even favoring socialism, Marxism, and communism over democracy. While victims of those oppressive and collapsing nations are escaping to the United States to run away from despotism and tyranny and enjoy freedom in a genuine American democracy, many mentally disjointed Americans, a majority of whom are Gen Zs and Millennials, are embracing idiocy to abolish the Police, ICE, national borders, and government, as we know it. This is the height of stupidity, to say the least. Thank God, we do not
Pastor’s Notes Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” —Philippians 4:13 These words of St. Paul are among my favorite passages in the New Testament. They speak deeply to my heart because I have experienced God’s abiding love and presence throughout my life, especially as a priest. In every season—joy or sorrow, strength or illness, success or failure—God remains faithful. Each day, I try to place myself in His hands, trusting that His grace will sustain me in whatever He asks me to do. Paul’s words do not promise that everything will unfold according to our wishes. They assure us that, whether we experience abundance or hardship, Christ will give us strength to remain faithful. Our confidence rests in the One who walks with us through every circumstance. This trust helps us reflect on the “wedding garment” in the Gospel parable of the wedding feast. God graciously invites us into communion with Him, and His invitation calls for a response that transforms our lives. To put on the wedding garment is to allow His grace to clothe us in faith, gratitude, repentance, and love. We come ready to let Him change our hearts—and to express that change in how we live. As we celebrate Steward-
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Genders in Sports see this degree of lunacy in the Philippines. Going back to gender in sports. God created men and women to be equal, perhaps mentally, but not physiologically, emotionally, or physically. There is nothing fair or just about allowing men or transgender people to play in women’s sports. The results have been clear and one-sided. And expectedly so. As I said earlier, the solution is simple; it is staring us in the face, right under our noses. And common sense is magnifying it! Since society has added one more gender, then, to be just and fair, we must add a new category for transgender athletes, since they, too, have a right to compete, but only against their fellow transgenders, not women. Therefore, I propose that transgender athletes (even subdivided into their true birth sex) have their own category: transgenders playing against their own kind, transgenders, men against men (only), and women against women (only). No intermixing. If transgenders want to split up, so be it: transgender women, transgender men, LGBTQ plus… I honestly do not understand why all the powers-that-be and experts in various pertinent fields are having a difficult time figuring out the solution to this, what they consider a “complex” dilemma, which to me is a simple problem, with the answer glaring at us. The question is, will our legislators have enough common sense, be pragmatic enough, and have the wisdom and courage to adopt this simple solution and finally achieve fairness and justice for women in sports? We must all respect and protect all women, not only in sports but in all other challenging arenas of life. Let’s revive chivalry.
Hot drinks and cancer A large new study from the UK reveals that drinking hot beverages “was associated with a threefold higher risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) than consuming warm beverages.” If the link is causal, consuming beverages “hot” instead of “very hot” could prevent an estimated 14% of new ESCC cases, or 440 cancers each year in the UK, researchers reported. “The study of nearly 1 million people is consistent with previous research from countries such as Iran and China, where ESCC is much more common, and with the International Agency for Research on Cancer classification of beverages consumed above 65 °C (149 °F) as “probably carcinogenic” to humans based on limited epidemiologic and experimental evidence.” – MS Kratom: new killer Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), which contains more than 40 chemical compounds, alkaloids, is a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It was in the late 20th century (1980s, 1990s) that immigrants brought it to the United States and Europe. Kratom mimics opioids in larger doses and can cause severe, life-threatening adverse reactions, especially among children. Symptoms include seizures, severe agitation, tremors, hallucinations, tachycardia, spike in blood pressure, slowed breathing, and comas. This deadly “all-energy, allnatural booster,” as it is deceptively advertised, comes in bright, sweet-flavored packaging sold at gas stations, where adults and teens get them. Very dangerous to pregnant women and their babies. It might sound ridiculous, PAGE 12
Clothed in Faith, Living in Generosity ship Month here at Incarnation Church, we might ask ourselves: How does my trust in God become visible in the way I use what He has entrusted to me? Everything we have begins as a gift: our lives, our time, our abilities, our resources, and the people placed in our care. Stewardship is our grateful response. It is the daily decision to receive God’s blessings with humility, care for them responsibly, and share them generously. Trust makes such generosity possible. We can hesitate to give because we worry about having enough—enough time, enough energy, enough money, enough strength. These concerns are real. Yet faith invites us to prayerfully consider what we can offer and to trust God as we take that step. Sometimes that step is making time for someone who needs a listening ear. Sometimes it is offering our talents to a parish ministry, helping a struggling family, or caring for God’s creation. It can also mean thoughtfully reviewing our Sunday offering and asking whether it reflects both our gratitude and our ability to give. Regular, generous financial support helps sustain the worship, formation, outreach, and daily work that make Incarnation a spiritual home for so many. Every gift offered with love becomes part of our shared mission. Through our participa-
tion, we help others encounter the welcome and care of Christ. Of course, there are seasons when even saying “yes” to God feels difficult. Pain, illness, disappointment, and uncertainty can weaken our confidence. In those moments, we turn to the Blessed Mother and the saints for their intercession and example. They, too, knew suffering and unanswered questions. Yet they continued to trust, to love, and to serve. Their perseverance reminds us that we can remain faithful even when we do not fully understand the road before us. Each day, then, let us return to Paul’s words: “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” Let us pray them when we feel weary, when generosity stretches us, and when God calls us to a responsibility we feel unprepared to carry. May this Stewardship Month deepen our trust in Christ and open our hearts to greater generosity. May the faith we profess become the love we practice. And may we wear our “wedding garment” each day through lives that gratefully receive God’s gifts and joyfully share them. Blessings! Fr. Rodel Balagtas
*** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California
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Overcoming the presumption of unenforceability of Premarital Agreements Barrister’s Corner A tty . K enneth U rsua R eyes MANY spouses in California enter into a marriage thinking that having a fully executed premarital agreement is a “bullet proof” way of protecting their assets in case of a divorce in the future. However, it is not as simple as that. Although a premarital agreement offers some protection, the court needs to make certain findings if it’s enforceability is contested by the other spouse. Family Code section 1615, subdivision (c)(section 1615(c)) creates a presumption “that a premarital agreement was not executed voluntarily” unless the trial court makes five designated findings. A premarital agreement is presumed to have not been executed voluntarily, and is therefore unenforceable, unless the trial court finds in writing or on the record that the agreement satisfies the requirements of section 1615(c)(1) and (2). Last v. Superior Court 94 Cal. App. 5th 30. 311 Cal. Rptr. 3d 791. Family Code Section 1615 (c) provides: For the purposes of subdivision (a), it shall be deemed that a premarital agreement was not executed voluntarily unless the court finds in writing or on the record all of the following: (1) The party against whom enforcement is sought was represented by independent legal counsel at the time of signing the agreement or, after being advised to seek independent legal counsel, expressly waived, in a separate writing, representation by independent legal counsel. The advisement to seek independent legal counsel shall be made at least seven calendar days before the final agreement is signed. (2) One of the following: (A) For an agreement executed between January 1, 2002, and January 1, 2020, the party against whom enforcement is sought had not less than seven calendar days between the time that party was first presented with the final agreement and advised to seek independent legal counsel and the time the agreement was signed.
This requirement does not apply to nonsubstantive amendments that do not change the terms of the agreement. (B) For an agreement executed on or after January 1, 2020, the party against whom enforcement is sought had not less than seven calendar days between the time that party was first presented with the final agreement and the time the agreement was signed, regardless of whether the party is represented by legal counsel. This requirement does not apply to nonsubstantive amendments that do not change the terms of the agreement. (3) The party against whom enforcement is sought, if unrepresented by legal counsel, was fully informed of the terms and basic effect of the agreement as well as the rights and obligations the party was giving up by signing the agreement, and was proficient in the language in which the explanation of the party’s rights was conducted and in which the agreement was written. The explanation of the rights and obligations relinquished shall be memorialized in writing and delivered to the party prior to signing the agreement. The unrepresented party shall, on or before the signing of the premarital agreement, execute a document declaring that the party received the information required by this paragraph and indicating who provided that information. (4) The agreement and the writings executed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (3) were not executed under duress, fraud, or undue influence, and the parties did not lack capacity to enter into the agreement. (5) Any other factors the court deems relevant. Although § 1615, subd. (a), places the ultimate burden of proof on the party claiming the premarital agreement is unenforceable, it does not raise a presumption that the premarital agreement is enforceable. It contains a series of objectively ascertainable factors that, if found by the trial court, would overcome the presumption of involuntary execution. Section 1615, subd. (c), in effect creates a presumption that a premarital agreement is unenforceable on the ground it was not executed voluntarily.
In Last v. Superior Court, the trial court granted the wife's request for temporary spousal support even though there was a premarital agreement which waives spousal support. The trial court did not adjudicate the issue whether the parties' premarital agreement, which included a provision by which the wife purported to waive any right to receive spousal support in the event the marriage ended in dissolution, was enforceable but granted the husband's request to bifurcate that issue. A premarital agreement is presumed to have not been executed voluntarily, and is therefore unenforceable, unless the trial court finds in writing or on the record that the agreement satisfies the requirements of Fam. Code, § 1615, subd. (c)(1) & (2). Because the husband did not ask the trial court to conduct a facial review of the premarital agreement and make findings under § 1615, subd. (c)(1) & (2), and because the trial court made no such findings, the agreement had to be deemed to have been involuntarily executed at the time the trial court ordered temporary spousal support. As a result, the trial court retained authority under Fam. Code, § 3600, to award temporary spousal support to the wife. Last v. Superior Court 94 Cal. App. 5th 30. 311 Cal. Rptr. 3d 791. In light of the above, it is important for the spouse trying to enforce the premarital agreement to ask the court to make the five findings pursuant to Family Code Section 1615 (c)(1) through (5).
*** Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC. This article is not a solicitation. *** Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH U. REYES, APC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)
Will I Have Enough? A friend going through a divorce recently shared a fear that many people quietly carry: “What will happen to me financially now?” The life she had planned suddenly looked uncertain. Her question felt familiar because I have asked it too, especially as I approach retirement and wonder whether I have saved enough. We live in a culture built around accumulation and safety margins. We are told to save, invest, prepare for emergencies, and build enough wealth to protect ourselves from the unexpected. All of that is wise. Scripture itself encourages planning, diligence, and stewardship. But without realizing it, we can begin to place so much confidence in our savings and investments that we believe we are secure only when every future need has already been accounted for. Then life changes. A marriage ends. A job disappears. A business slows down. Interest rates rise. The market crashes. An unexpected expense consumes the cushion
we worked so hard to build. And when the plan no longer works, we discover whether our trust was in the cushion or in the One who helped us fill it. The Israelites experienced this lesson through manna in the wilderness. God provided food for an entire nation, but He did it one morning at a time. They could not stockpile it for the future. Each new day required them to trust that provision would appear again. Jesus echoed this same principle when He taught His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Not yearly bread. Not enough bread to guarantee that nothing difficult would ever happen. Daily bread. This does not mean we should neglect saving, investing, or preparing for retirement. For some, this may be a wake-up call to begin. But for those who started late, saved too little, or watched their plans unravel because of circumstances they never expected, it is also an assurance: Your financial history is not a verdict on your future. When I look back over my own life, including the financial crash of 2008, the pandemic, and the painful years of rebuilding after my marriage ended, I can say this with confidence: God has always provided for me.
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His provision did not always arrive according to my timetable or in the form I expected. Sometimes it came through one client, one opportunity, one open door, or simply enough strength and resources for that day. But it came. And it was more than enough to help me move forward, rebuild, and eventually help others do the same. If God could provide for me during seasons when I could not see the way ahead, I believe He can do the same for you. Plan wisely. Save what you can. Keep moving forward. But never mistake the size of your cushion for the size of God’s provision. Tomorrow is not here yet, but the One who will meet you there already is.
*** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Kathy Current is a financial coach, mortgage advisor, and author of Heal Your Money Wounds God’s Way, where she combines more than three decades of financial experience with biblical wisdom. *** Readers who wish to send comments to the author or inquire about purchasing a copy of her book may email Kathy Current at kccurrent@gmail.com.
12 OCTOBER 10 - 16, 2026 • LOS ANGELES ASIAN JOURNAL
Early ballot returns urged ahead of November election SACRAMENTO — Vote-by-mail ballots are arriving at California households for the Nov. 3 general election, with state election officials urging voters to return them early because postal processing can affect postmark dates. County election offices began mailing ballots by Oct. 5 to active registered voters. Secure ballot drop boxes are also available, and voters may return completed ballots to county election offices or designated voting locations
when open. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by county election officials by Nov. 10. The Secretary of State recommends mailing ballots at least seven days before Election Day. The U.S. Postal Service says some mail may be postmarked later than the day it is deposited. Voters mailing close to the deadline can request a free manual postmark at a postal counter. Ballots delivered in person to
an authorized drop-off location must arrive by 8 p.m. on Election Day. The regular voter registration deadline is Oct. 19. Eligible residents who miss it may register conditionally and vote at designated locations through Nov. 3. Ballot status updates are available through the state's Where's My Ballot? service. Voters may call (800) 345-VOTE (8683) for assistance in English or (800) 339-2957 for Tagalog.
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Be part of our network DO you like to share your Filipino heritage? Whether through your profession, creative practice, research, advocacy, or passion, we want to hear from you. The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. is updating
its network of professionals, practitioners, artists, creatives, academics, and subject-matter experts whose knowledge, skills, and work help promote Filipino culture and heritage. Filipino or not, if you have something to share, connect
with us for possible future collaborations, programs, and projects within the Embassy’s jurisdiction in the United States and the Caribbean. Interested? Scan the QR code or register through the link: https://tinyurl.com/mtdhjfkr
California output reaches $4.5 trillion annualized pace SACRAMENTO — California’s economy surpassed a $4.5 trillion annualized pace in the second quarter of 2026, according to revised federal data, marking a new nominal-output threshold for the nation’s largest state economy. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis put California’s currentdollar gross domestic product at about $4.53 trillion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate for the Aprilthrough-June quarter. The figure does not mean the state produced $4.53 trillion during those three months. It represents the quarter’s pace projected over a full year and includes the effects of price changes as well as changes in production. For calendar year 2025, California’s revised GDP was about $4.30 trillion, up roughly $243 billion from 2024. After adjusting
for inflation, the state economy expanded about 3.5 percent. U.S. real GDP grew 2.1 percent that year. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office described California as the world’s fourth-largest economy. That comparison requires qualification because the new $4.53 trillion figure is an annualized quarterly rate, while international rankings generally use completed calendaryear GDP. Using comparable 2025 annual figures, California would rank fifth if treated as a country. World Bank data put Japan’s GDP at about $4.44 trillion, ahead of California, while the United Kingdom and India were below the state. Manufacturing generated about $391 billion in California economic output in 2025, according to the governor’s office. The Employ-
ment Development Department reported about 1.2 million manufacturing payroll jobs in August, 10,100 fewer than a year earlier. California added 39,400 nonfarm payroll jobs in August, bringing the total to about 18.18 million. Payroll employment was up 138,500 from a year earlier, while unemployment held at 5.1 percent. A separate household survey showed 246,700 fewer employed Californians and a labor force that was 351,100 smaller than a year earlier, reflecting different trends captured by the two federal labor surveys. The U.S. Small Business Administration counts 4.3 million small businesses in California, representing 99.8 percent of the state’s businesses and employing 7.6 million people.
Genders in Sports... PAGE 11 but at the national level in the United States, Kratom remains federally legal to possess and buy, and is not listed as a controlled substance. My question is: why? Killer substances with medicinal use must be completely banned in public and legally allowed only for medical use. We already have too many dangerous, deadly substances
around; legislators do not have to approve more. Look at what happened to recreational marijuana. More and more clinical data and studies are showing various health hazards among users, their families, and the people around them. Drugs have been known to destroy empires, nations, and people. Let us learn from history; otherwise we shall be doomed to repeat it, and this time around, labelled “stupid” also on our tombstone. Diagnosing Dengue Recognizing and diagnosing dengue in the United States is not an easy task because it is rare and mimics other viral infections like Zika and chikungunya. Diagnostic tests help in the diagnosis. In the Philippines, even a medical intern could smell it miles away. Filipino physicians almost always clinch the diagnosis even before blood test conNational Commission for Culture and the firmation arrives. There are now Arts Chairman Eric B. Zerrudo, Ph.D. and about 2,008 cases of dengue in IT was my second encounter (From left) Asian Journal columnist Rogelio of Trade and Industry’s Assistant with Philippine First Lady Liza Constantino Medina, First Lady Louise Social Secretary Bianca Zobel with Yayot Department the 40 jurisdictions of the United Secretary Al M. Valenciano (right). Araneta-Marcos, or FL LAM. It Araneta-Marcos and Yayot Garcia. Garcia (right). States, with Florida ranking first happened during the opening of “LIKHA 5: Likha Ko, Lahi Ko,” where she was the guest of honor. Upon entering the LIKHA Tent at the Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls, I saw Joanne Rae M. Ramirez of The Philippine Star, and we had our photo taken together. (From left) Rogelio Constantino Medina, I then saw Social Undersec- Social Undersecretary Dina Tantoco and Yayot Siyabit artisan from Maibung, Sulu. retary Dina Arroyo-Tantoco and Garcia. Artist/wood carver James Liwanagan of greeted her. She is the daughMarinduque. ter of my late boss, Congressman Iggy Arroyo. I remember serving as a management consultant in her father’s congressional office at the Batasang Pambansa. It was also Dina Tantoco who took my first photo with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos during the opening Rogelio Constantino Medina with Joanne Rae of Likhang Filipino in January Some employees of the Center for International Trade, Exposition and Mission with CITEM executive director Leah Tau_t Bato Otar weavers from M. Ramirez of The Philippine Star (extreme 2026. Punta Baja, Rizal, Palawan. right). I also saw Leah Pulido Oca- Pulido Ocampo (3rd from right, standing). mpo, executive director of the public free of charge from Octo- Goldenberg mansions, as well Through LIKHA and other Center for International Trade ber 2 to 4, 2026, celebrated tra- as Bahay Pangulo. cultural and heritage initiatives, Expositions and Missions ditional Filipino craftsmanship Major heritage sites have First Lady Louise Araneta-Mar(CITEM), a former officemate and featured more than 100 also undergone restoration and cos has helped bring greatfrom the time Mina T. Gabor artisans, designers and makers rehabilitation in recent years, er public attention to Filipino served as CITEM’s first presi- from across the country. including the Philippine In- craftsmanship, historic landdent and CEO. Implemented in partnership ternational Convention Center marks and traditions that form Next, I had a photo taken with with the Department of Trade and the Coconut Palace, both of part of the country’s identity. Social Secretary Bianca Zobel and Industry, the LIKHA pro- which have been reopened fol*** and Social Undersecretary Dina gram seeks to support local lowing preservation work. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints exTantoco. I also saw Vivian Re- creative industries and help The First Lady’s background pressed by the author do not necessarily recio, events director at the Office preserve traditional handweav- as a lawyer and educator also flect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the of the Social Secretary. ing and crafting techniques that provides context for her inter- Asian Journal, its management, editorial board Later, First Lady Liza Aran- are at risk of disappearing. est in culture and heritage. Her and staff. *** eta-Marcos saw me. To my First Lady Liza Araneta-Mar- advocacy has drawn attention Associate Professor III Rogelio Constantino surprise, she walked toward cos has become a visible sup- to the importance of document- Medina is an award-winning Filipino intername, and we had a photo taken porter of Filipino arts, culture ing, preserving and promoting tional journalist, columnist and academic. He together as I handed her my and heritage through a number the country’s cultural resources is well regarded for his extensive contributions Asian Journal calling card. of preservation and promotion- for future generations. to Philippine media and major international I recalled meeting her years al initiatives. I also admire her interest news publications. His career spans several earlier with her husband, FerHer involvement has included in urban renewal and cultur- decades and covers a wide range of fields, dinand “Bongbong” Marcos efforts to support local artisans al tourism. Beyond individual including news, business, travel, lifestyle, sciJr., now the 17th president of and promote the restoration exhibitions, she has supported ence, sports and health. He has written for major international publications such as the the Philippines, in Vigan City, and renewed use of historic initiatives aimed at bringing re- Far Eastern Economic Review in Hong Kong, The Ilocos Sur. Those encounters landmarks. newed attention to historic dis- Japan Times in Tokyo and Gulf News in Dubai. took place while the late PhilAmong the cultural and her- tricts. One example is a cultural Notably, he made history as the first Filipino ippine Charity Sweepstakes itage projects associated with and tourism illumination initia- journalist to interview Japan’s first astronaut, Office Chairperson Honeygirl the current administration are tive in Manila’s Binondo China- Dr. Mamoru Mohri. He is also credentialed with S. De Leon was my immediate the restoration and revitaliza- town, highlighting the district’s the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Press superior. tion of historic properties with- centuries-old Chinese-Filipino Centers in New York City and Washington, D.C. *** “LIKHA 5: Likha Ko, Lahi in the Malacañang complex, heritage while promoting it as a Email: rogelio.medina@asianjournalinc.com Ko,” which was open to the including the Laperal, Teus and destination for visitors.
My Second Encounter with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos
with a record-breaking outbreak. There is one confirmed death. While there is no specific direct treatment for dengue, the supportive management available today here and in the Philippines results in over 99.5 percent success and recovery with early diagnosis.
*** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, and astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
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Alex Eala makes Paris Fashion Week debut at Chanel show by AJPress PARIS — Filipino tennis star Alexandra “Alex” Eala attended Chanel’s Spring-Summer 2027 runway presentation at the Grand Palais on Monday, October 5, making her Paris Fashion Week debut days after winning a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Japan. Eala, 21, was accompanied by her mother, Rizza Eala, at the presentation of the French fashion house’s latest collection by artistic director Matthieu Blazy. The athlete wore a Chanel tweed jacket over a black top, paired with faded denim trousers, oversized sunglasses and a handbag. Speaking to Vogue Philippines, Eala described the experience as surreal. “It’s so surreal to experience the collection, to experience Chanel in Paris,” she said. “I wouldn’t have had it any other way for my first show.” Eala also shared photographs from the event on Instagram, thanking Chanel and commenting on the collection’s combination of historical references and
Photo from Instagram/@alex.eala
contemporary design. Blazy’s Spring-Summer 2027 collection explored different periods in the life of Chanel founder Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. According to the fashion house’s collection notes, the designs emphasized freedom of movement through lightweight fabrics, updated tailoring and new interpretations of its signature tweed suits. The presentation featured a suspended moon and illuminat-
ed birds above the runway. International guests included Nicole Kidman, Dua Lipa and Pedro Pascal. Although the event marked Eala’s first Paris Fashion Week appearance, she previously attended presentations by Tory Burch, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein during New York Fashion Week in September. Her visit to Paris followed the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where she earned her second women’s singles bronze medal after losing to China’s Wang Xiyu in the October 1 semifinals. Eala also won singles bronze at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. In August, she became the first Filipina to win a main-tour Women’s Tennis Association singles title, defeating American Jessica Pegula in the rain-delayed Washington final. The victory helped Eala break into the world’s top 20 for the first time. Ranked No. 18 during her Paris appearance, Eala is entered in the Wuhan Open in China, scheduled for October 12–18. She is also listed for the Hong Kong Tennis Open in November.
SB19 performs ‘Together in Motion’ for Philippine ASEAN chairship Tourism department release links P-pop group’s performance to regional cooperation campaign by AJPress MANILA — The Department of Tourism has released a music video of Filipino pop group SB19 performing “Together in Motion,” which it is promoting as an official song of the Philippines’ 2026 chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Issued in early October, the video features Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken and Justin, along with scenes depicting destinations and communities in Southeast Asia. Anya Lagman composed the music; Jimmy Antiporda and Louie Ocampo arranged it. Lagman identifies the piece on her professional website as an official theme song for the Philippine chairship. Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said SB19 was chosen partly for its contribution to Filipino culture and its ability to connect with younger audiences. She also said the group projects hope and positivity. SB19 was named a Philippine tourism ambassador in July. In August, the department introduced travel microsites for SB19 and fellow P-pop group BINI, featuring members’ dream destinations and discounted packages from accredited tourism partners. The initiative forms part of the department’s “Discover More to Love” campaign, launched in June to encourage domestic travel. The Philippines’ ASEAN chairship operates under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.” Its three stated priorities are Peace and Security
Photo from Facebook/@SB19Official
Anchors, Prosperity Corridors and People Empowerment. In February, the Presidential Communications Office introduced a separate ASEAN 2026 song, “One Vision, One Ocean.” A March 31 presidential memorandum circular directed national agencies and public and private educational institutions to play that song’s music video after flag ceremonies and during relevant official events, while encouraging local governments to do the same. ASEAN’s longstanding institutional anthem is “The ASEAN Way.” The 49th ASEAN Summit and related summits are scheduled for Metro Manila from Nov. 16 to 18. The government has designated those dates special nonworking days across the National Capital Region to ease traffic congestion and accommodate security arrangements.
Philippine Megastar Sharon Cuneta brings "The Mega Experience" to Pechanga Theater Two Shows Only on Sunday, November 15, 2026, with Special Guest Bugoy Drilon TEMECULA, Calif. -(October 7, 2026) – Pechanga Resort Casino welcomes the Philippines’ beloved megastar, Sharon Cuneta, to the Pechanga Theater for “Sharon Cuneta in The Mega Experience” with special guest Bugoy Drilon on Sunday, November 15, 2026, for two shows at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Pechanga Box Office at 1-800-PECHANGA or online at www.pechanga.com. Sharon Cuneta rose to fame in 1978 when, at just 12 years old, she scored a breakout hit with “Mr. DJ,” which earned her first Gold Record. Her boxoffice success, including the 1985 classic “Bituing Walang Ningning,” led the press to crown her the Philippines’ “Megastar,” a title that has defined a career now spanning nearly five decades. Her beloved hits include “Mr. DJ,” “High School Life,” “Bituing Walang Ningning,” “Naaalala Ka,” “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas” and “Kahit Konting Pagtingin.” Beyond music,
she starred in films such as “Dear Heart,” “Madrasta” and “Caregiver,” and hosted the long-running “The Sharon Cuneta Show,” later serving as a coach on “The Voice Kids.” Special guest Bugoy Drilon first captured the nation’s attention on the second season of “Pinoy Dream Academy” in 2008 and went on to win both critical acclaim and commercial success with his debut single “Paano Na Kaya.” For more information, visit Pechanga.com. An Intimate Concert Experience Shows in the Pechanga Theater inside Pechanga Resort Casino offer a comfortable and intimate concert experience. With 1,200 seats in its theater, each show features state-of-theart and acoustically perfected sound, plus comfortable chairs and an up-close view from every theater seat. About Pechanga Resort Casino Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and
most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the best resort/casino in America by Condé Nast Traveler and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offering 5,500 of the hottest slots, table games, worldclass entertainment, 1,100 hotel rooms, dining, spa and championship golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features an unrivaled destination in California. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Indians. For more information, call toll free 1-888-PECHANGA or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and on X @PechangaCasino. Pechanga Resort Casino is open 24 hours. Guests must be 21 and older to enter the casino. (Advertising Supplement)
Michael V. finds unexpected career highlight in ‘Family Feud’ hosting role Veteran Filipino comedian fulfills a longstanding ambition while temporarily taking over for Dingdong Dantes by AJPress MANILA — After years of working in television comedy, Michael V. has returned to game show hosting through an assignment he says he had long hoped to receive. The veteran Filipino comedian, popularly known as Bitoy, described his temporary stint presenting GMA Network’s Family Feud as one of his professional highlights of 2026, an opportunity that came as a welcome surprise. Michael V. said he had often wondered what it would be like to host the Philippine version of the internationally known game show. He recalled watching previous editions presented by Richard Gomez, Ogie Alcasid, Edu Manzano and Luis Manzano. The opportunity arose when regular host Dingdong Dantes took a temporary break to concentrate on filming The Master Cutter, GMA’s primetime action-drama series. Michael V. made his hosting debut on September 17, with cast members of his long-running sitcom Pepito Manaloto participating as contestants. The opening episode featured two teams drawn from the sitcom’s ensemble. Team Bahay included Manilyn Reynes, Jake Vargas, Arthur Solinap and Mosang, while Team Office featured Chariz Solomon, John Feir, Maureen Larrazabal and Tony Lapeña. Although Michael V. is closely associated with GMA’s comedy programs Bubble Gang and Pepito Manaloto, hosting is an established part of his television career. He previously appeared as a host on Eat Bulaga! and presented programs including Bitoy’s Funniest Videos and Hole in the Wall. He credited those experiences with helping him adapt to the demands of Family Feud. The comedian said his preparation involves learning about contestants and developing material appropriate to their personalities. At the same time, he relies on spontaneous exchanges, an important element of a program built around contestants’ answers and reactions.
Photo from Instagram/@michaelbitoy
He acknowledged initially being cautious about allowing jokes to run too long, given the show’s production requirements. He subsequently learned that some material could be edited for television, with additional exchanges potentially appearing on social media. Dantes welcomed Michael V.’s temporary appointment. Michael V. recalled receiving a congratulatory message from Dantes before the hosting arrangement had been finalized. Michael V. said he appreciated the encouragement and was pleased to take on the assignment while Dantes concentrated on his acting commitments. The comedian has also expressed interest in a possible future episode featuring his family competing against the Dantes family. The idea has not been announced as a confirmed production. Dantes has said he intends to resume his regular hosting duties, although GMA has not announced a specific return date. The temporary hosting assignment has allowed the veteran comedian to revisit a familiar aspect of his television career while continuing his regular commitments to Bubble Gang and Pepito Manaloto.
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A Night of Timeless OPM: Odette Quesada and Ogie Alcasid bring "Q&A" to Pechanga Theater OPM Icons Unite for One Night Only on November 1 TEMECULA, Calif. – Pechanga Resort Casino welcomes two of the most celebrated names in Original Pilipino Music (OPM) when Odette Quesada and Ogie Alcasid take the stage together for “Q&A,” live in the Pechanga Theater on Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Pechanga Box Office at 1-800-PECHANGA or online at www.pechanga.com. Named for the initials of its two stars, “Q&A” brings Quesada and Alcasid together for an evening built around the songs that have defined generations of Filipino music lovers. Both are acclaimed singer-songwriters whose ballads have become standards in the Philippines and across the Filipino community worldwide. After winning over audiences in the Philippines and across the U.S., the duo returns with a night of beloved hits, heartfelt duets and the playful onstage chemistry that has made them fan favorites. Odette Quesada has been writing hits since 1982, when she entered the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival at just 16. Her song “Till I Met You” won the festival’s grand prize in 1983, and her catalog includes enduring classics such as “Give Me a Chance,” made famous by Ric Segreto, “Farewell,” sung
by Raymond Lauchengco for the film Bagets, and her own first single “Friend of Mine.” In 2024, she received the Parangal Levi Celerio Lifetime Achievement Award at the PMPC Star Awards for Music, capping more than four decades in music. Ogie Alcasid launched his recording career in 1989 with “Nandito Ako,” which was named Song of the Year by Magic 99.9, and followed with hits including “Sa Kanya,” “Mahal Kita, Walang Iba,” “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang” and “Kung Mawawala Ka.” One of the most prolific composers in Original Pilipino Music, he has also penned chart-topping ballads for other artists, including “Pangako,” “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw” and “Pangarap Ko Ang Ibigin Ka” for Regine Velasquez. A multiple Awit Award winner with numerous gold and platinum albums, Alcasid is also a familiar face on television as a host of “It’s Showtime” and a judge on “Tawag ng Tanghalan.” An Intimate Concert Experience Shows in the Pechanga Theater inside Pechanga Resort Casino offer a comfortable and intimate concert experience. With 1,200 seats in its theater, each show features state-of-the-
art and acoustically perfected sound, plus comfortable chairs and an up-close view from every theater seat. About Pechanga Resort Casino Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the best resort/casino in America by Condé Nast Traveler and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offering 5,500 of the hottest slots, table games, worldclass entertainment, 1,100 hotel rooms, dining, spa and championship golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features an unrivaled destination in California. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Indians. For more information, call toll free 1-888-PECHANGA or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and on X @PechangaCasino. Pechanga Resort Casino is open 24 hours. Guests must be 21 and older to enter the casino.
Luis Manzano says Vilma Santos’ legacy goes beyond National Artist recognition The television host says his mother’s decades in Philippine entertainment speak for themselves, while Santos accepts the government’s latest selection. by AJPress
MANILA — Actor and television host Luis Manzano said his mother, veteran actress and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, does not need the National Artist title to establish her contributions to Philippine entertainment, following her absence from the latest list of honorees. In an interview with The Philippine Star published Oct. 9, Manzano said his mother’s extensive work in film and television, as well as her years in public service, had already established her record of achievement. He said the family would welcome the distinction if Santos eventually received it, but emphasized that her sense of fulfillment did not depend on the award. Santos, he added, takes pride in her accomplishments, particularly her roles as a mother and grandmother. He also thanked her longtime supporters, known as Vilmanians, for continuing to advocate for her recognition. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. conferred the Order of National Artists on 10 Filipinos under Proclamation No. 1414, signed (Advertising Supplement) Sept. 1, 2026, and announced
Photo from Facebook/@luismanzanoofficial
Sept. 11. The recipients, designated National Artists for 2025, include screenwriter Armando “Bing” Lao, recognized posthumously, and cultural scholar Nicanor Tiongson. The distinction is the Philippines’ highest state recognition for artistic achievement. Recipients are selected by the president upon the joint recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Santos was not among those named. Santos, 72, had addressed her nonselection during a Sept. 20 screening of the restored 1984 film Sister Stella L. at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila. “If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be,” she said during a discussion following the screening, according to the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph). She expressed gratitude for the opportunities and recognition she had received during her 63-year entertainment career and said the selection process should be respected. Santos congratulated the new-
ly proclaimed National Artists and urged supporters to avoid personal attacks over the decision. She said her priorities included her family’s well-being, the health of loved ones and maintaining her peace of mind. She also reaffirmed her commitment to serving her constituents in Batangas. Film Development Council of the Philippines Chairman Jose Javier Reyes separately said Santos’ omission did not lessen her importance to Philippine cinema. Reyes, whose remarks were reported by PEP.ph in September, called for mutual respect amid discussions about the award. The restored Sister Stella L., directed by Mike de Leon, was presented at Manila’s Metropolitan Theater on Sept. 20 as part of Philippine Film Industry Month. The 1984 political drama follows a nun’s growing involvement in a labor struggle and remains among Santos’ notable screen performances. Manzano also reflected on growing up as the son of Santos and actor Edu Manzano, acknowledging that their established careers provided opportunities when he entered the entertainment industry. He said maintaining a career, however, depended on continued work and the trust of audiences. Asked about a possible return to politics after losing his bid for Batangas vice governor in 2025, Manzano said he was not currently considering another campaign. He also expressed gratitude for the support he received from voters.
Aiko Melendez, Onemig Bondoc engaged after proposal at her father’s resting place by AJPress MANILA — Actress and Quezon City Councilor Aiko Melendez has accepted a marriage proposal from actor Onemig Bondoc during a visit to the resting place of her late father, nearly three decades after their first romantic connection. The engagement was documented in a video released October 6 on Bondoc’s YouTube channel. During the visit to Himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park in Quezon City, Bondoc presented Melendez with white flowers before kneeling with a ring and asking her to marry him. Melendez initially laughed in surprise and questioned whether he was serious before accepting the proposal. Bondoc said he had consulted Melendez’s mother, sibling and two children beforehand. He chose the location because of its significance to Melendez, who visits the resting place of her father, actor and former Quezon City councilor Jimi Melendez, around his October 31 birthday. Melendez later said she had expected an ordinary day of recording video content with Bondoc, whom she calls Uno, and had no advance knowledge of his plans. In an Instagram post on October 7, Melendez reflected on their history dating back nearly 29 years. Their earlier romantic connection in the 1990s did not lead to a lasting partnership, and both subsequently pursued separate
Photo from Instagram/@aikomelendez
lives before reconnecting. “29 years later… I said YES,” she wrote, emphasizing that their decision to marry was based on their present commitment to each other. The couple publicly confirmed their renewed relationship in February 2026. During a September 23 appearance on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, they discussed how an invitation for Bondoc to appear on Melendez’s YouTube channel helped bring them back into contact. Bondoc became known to Philippine television audiences through the youth series T.G.I.S., while Melendez has maintained her entertainment career alongside her responsibilities as a councilor representing Quezon City’s fifth district. Following the engagement announcement, the couple thanked those who had sent congratulations. Melendez also renewed an invitation for television host Boy Abunda to serve as a principal sponsor at their wedding. Abunda accepted the invitation during the October 7 broadcast of his television program.
Maui Taylor says Viva Hot Babes remain open to SexBomb Girls collaboration by AJPress MANILA — Maui Taylor said the Viva Hot Babes remain open to performing with the SexBomb Girls, although no joint appearance has been confirmed for the Viva group's reunion concert later this month. Taylor said the Viva Hot Babes had previously been invited to take part in a SexBomb reunion show but could not coordinate their schedules because members had separate commitments during the holiday season. The interest is mutual, according to Andrea del Rosario, who said in a September television interview that the Viva Hot Babes had also invited the SexBomb Girls to their concert. At a recent media conference, Taylor said an appearance by SexBomb performers was still being explored, even if only two members could participate. The published concert lineup does not include the SexBomb Girls. The Viva Hot Babes' reunion show, “Bulaklak,” is scheduled for October 23 at 8 p.m. at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City. The announced performers are Taylor, Del Rosa-
rio, Katya Santos, Gwen Garci, Sheree Bautista, Jaycee Parker, Ella V. and Jennifer Lee. GB Sampedro is directing the production. Taylor said rehearsals had been taking place almost daily as the group prepared its routines. The Viva Hot Babes also released a new single, “Kumendeng Tayo,” on October 2, which Taylor said they intend to perform at the concert. Formed in 2003, the Viva Hot Babes became known for songs such as “Bulaklak” and “Kikay,” as well as appearances in film and television. The SexBomb Girls rose to prominence through televised dance performances and recordings. Although the groups were frequently compared, their members have described their relationship as friendly rather than competitive. Taylor is also hosting “Pantaxa Laiya: Uncut,” a VMX special directed by Carlo Alvarez and scheduled to begin streaming October 13. It features previously unreleased material from the 2023 reality competition “Pantaxa Laiya,” in which Taylor and Santos served as mentors.
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Dennis Trillo says protecting family guided The Megastar’s Season of Gratitude: response to Patrick Garcia interview Sharon Cuneta Kicks Off AJP “The Mega Experience” U.S. Tour in Pasadena on November 13 by
ress
MANILA — Actor Dennis Trillo said he felt a responsibility to defend his wife, Jennylyn Mercado, and their family after her former partner, Patrick Garcia, publicly revisited their separation. He also signaled a willingness to settle their differences through direct conversation. Trillo spoke to reporters on October 4 after the Golden Screen Awards: Dekada Awards in Pasig City, where he received two trophies recognizing his performances in Felix Manalo (2015) and Green Bones (2024). He said the decision to respond publicly was his own, not an arrangement he had made with Mercado. Defending his family, he said, was part of his responsibility as a husband and father. The renewed attention followed Garcia’s September 29 interview with entertainment host Ogie Diaz about his relationship with Mercado, which ended in 2008 while she was pregnant with their son, Alex Jazz. Garcia disputed the characterization that he had abandoned Mercado, although he acknowledged that he was not present during her pregnancy. He said he chose to discuss the past after his teenage daughter faced hostile comments online about
Photo from Instagram/@dennistrillo
him. Garcia also said he last saw Jazz in December 2017 and acknowledged that financial support stopped after their contact ended. He maintained that he had tried to reconnect. Those statements reflect Garcia’s account; Mercado has not publicly addressed those specific claims in the current exchange. In a statement, Aguila Entertainment said Mercado would not comment on Garcia’s interview out of respect for both families’ privacy and peace of mind. The agency also urged the public to stop directing hostile comments at Garcia’s relatives, particularly his daughter.
Star Magic, which represents Garcia’s daughter, separately called for the public to leave her out of the dispute and said it was prepared to take appropriate action over continued harassment. Trillo’s earlier social media responses drew scrutiny, including a response to actress Gelli de Belen after she urged adults to consider the children affected by the public disagreement. Trillo subsequently said he was not angry with de Belen or anyone else, describing his remarks as an effort to protect his family from further distress. Asked whether Garcia might see Jazz again, Trillo said he saw no objection in principle, but acknowledged that the public exchanges had complicated the situation. He said the matter could be discussed privately and expressed openness to reconciliation, adding that people deserved opportunities to change. Trillo also appealed for an end to online attacks and asked that children not be drawn into disagreements among adults. He did not announce any new arrangement between Garcia and Jazz. On October 7, Mercado posted photographs of a family meal with Trillo and their children, captioned “Together is the best place.” She did not address Garcia’s statements in the post.
Vic del Rosario maps Viva’s next chapter with new films, OPM musicals
Veteran entertainment executive looks to continued film production and new stage projects built around Filipino music and familiar screen properties by AJPress MANILA — A lifetime achievement award gave Vic del Rosario Jr. an occasion to look back on Viva’s four decades in Philippine film. He used it just as much to discuss what comes next. The Viva Communications founder and chairman said the company intends to keep producing movies while expanding into musical theater, including projects built around the music of Ogie Alcasid and Louie Ocampo and a stage adaptation of
“Working Girls.” The Film Development Council of the Philippines honored Del Rosario at the Sept. 30 closing ceremony of Philippine Film Industry Month 2026 in Quezon City. Fellow Lifetime Achievement Award recipients were actress Hilda Koronel, the late cultural scholar Tito Genova Valiente and the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Del Rosario said he has spent 60 years in music and nearly 45 years in film. He also said Viva has produced about 1,000 films and remains committed to film-
making for decades, with his children helping carry the company forward. Viva Films, meanwhile, is preparing the Philippine adaptation of the Thai horror-comedy “Pee Mak,” starring Wilbert Ross and Bea Binene, for an Oct. 14 theatrical opening. Viva’s theater expansion is already visible in “Bongga Ka, ’Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical,” which opened Sept. 18 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Built around songs by Hotdog, the production stars Atasha Muhlach, with
With both Pechanga performances reportedly nearly sold out, Los Angeles-area fans are encouraged to secure their Pasadena seats now. by AJPress PASADENA, California — Los Angeles, get ready for a MEGA celebration! Philippine entertainment icon Sharon Cuneta will launch her Thanksgiving-season U.S. tour, THE MEGA EXPERIENCE, on Friday, November 13, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at PAZNAZ, 3700 E. Sierra Madre Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91107. Marking Sharon’s first performance at PAZNAZ, the concert opens a season of music, memories and gratitude—a celebration of the fans whose love and support have carried the Megastar through generations. At the heart of The Mega Experience is that enduring connection. For longtime Sharonians, her songs are part of their own stories: first loves, family celebrations, heartbreaks and new beginnings. This Pasadena engagement offers an opportunity to gather once again and celebrate the artist who has given those moments a voice. The excitement comes as Sharon enjoys another major success on screen. Honor Thy Mother, her family drama series with Barbie Forteza, reached No. 1 among television shows on Prime Video in the Philippines following its September premiere, a milestone shared by the cast on social media. That success brings fresh momentum to her upcoming concert appearances and gives fans another reason to celebrate the Megastar. Now, Southern California audiences are preparing to experience that energy live. Organizers report that both Pechanga performances on November 15 are nearly sold out. With the matinee and evening shows drawing strong demand, the message to Los Angeles-area concertgoers is clear: Make Pasadena your date with the Megastar and secure your preferred seats while they are still available! For fans eager to experience Sharon live, November 13 offers an exciting opportunity to catch The Mega Experience at its U.S. tour kickperformances listed through Oct. 24. Del Rosario said another musical is being developed around Alcasid’s music, with Alcasid and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid expected to participate. Alcasid’s official website separately lists an “Ogie Alcasid Musical” for May to June 2027. Del Rosario also disclosed plans for “Si Aida, Si Lorna
off. Bring your family, gather your friends and fellow Sharonians, and welcome the Thanksgiving season with an evening celebrating Filipino music and the extraordinary bond between an artist and her audience. Joining Sharon is special guest Bugoy Drilon, with special participation by Nathan Bryce, adding even more musical excitement to this memorable evening. Presented by Trinity Legacy Entertainment, APICEM Entertainment Group and Stargaze Production, with Berce LLC as tour promoter, the Pasadena engagement brings together a community ready to celebrate Sharon’s next chapter. The concert is sponsored by Island Pacific, DPH Hunt Enterprises, Asian Journal and Korner Hut Restaurant. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW! sharoncuneta.eventbrite.com For tickets and inquiries: Trinity: 818-455-2132 Peachy: 213-308-0253 Vic: 323-440-3174 APICEM: 760-507-9118 Carnie: 619-261-3215 One Megastar. Generations of fans. A season of gratitude. Pasadena, let’s make it MEGA!
at Si Fe,” using the music of composer Louie Ocampo, and a musical version of “Working Girls.” No cast or opening dates have been publicly announced for those two projects. He said performers for Viva’s planned musicals would still have to audition rather than receive roles automatically because of existing ties to the company. He cited Muhlach’s
selection for “Bongga Ka, ’Day!” as an example, saying she auditioned before being chosen. Del Rosario traced Viva’s beginnings to 1981, recalling Sharon Cuneta as the company’s first artist and the late Eddie Garcia as its first director and saying he started Viva with Mina Salvador and his sister, Tess Cruz del Rosario.
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